Sorrow

/ˈsɒrəʊ/

nounBeginner📊CommonEmotion
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A feeling of great sadness.

/ˈsɒrəʊ/

nounnegativeBeginner
Emotion

A feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune.

His sorrow was palpable after the accident.

💡 Simply: Sorrow is like when you feel really, really sad because something bad happened, like losing your favorite toy or a pet. It's a heavy feeling in your heart.

👶 For kids: Sadness that makes you feel like your tummy hurts.

More Examples

2

She could not hide her sorrow at the news.

3

The weight of her sorrow was evident in her silence.

How It's Used

General Usage

"She was overcome with sorrow after her dog died."

Literature

"The novel explores the sorrow of war."

Psychology

"Therapists help people process their sorrows."

2

To feel or show great sadness.

/ˈsɒrəʊ/

verbnegativemedium
Emotion

Feel or express deep sorrow.

She sorrowed over the death of her father.

💡 Simply: To sorrow means to feel really, really sad about something. It’s like letting the sadness take over your feelings.

👶 For kids: To be very, very sad.

More Examples

2

The nation sorrowed for the victims of the tragedy.

3

He sorrowed at the thought of leaving his family.

How It's Used

Literature

"She sorrowed for her lost love."

Poetry

"He sorrowed at the injustice he witnessed."

Tip:Think of the action of experiencing *sore* (sorrow) feelings.

Idioms & expressions

in sorrow

Feeling or expressing sadness.

"She was in sorrow after the loss of her friend."

sorrow's shadow

A feeling of great sadness that never goes away.

"The sorrow's shadow of the war fell over the survivors."

From Old English *sorg* (care, grief), related to German *Sorge* (worry). It has its roots in Proto-Germanic.

The word sorrow has been used in English for centuries, appearing in Old English texts and evolving with the language.

Memory tip

Imagine someone *sore* (sorrow) from a painful loss.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"Care, grief, anxiety."

deep sorrowgreat sorrowa time of sorrowfilled with sorrowexpress sorrow

Common misspellings

sorowsorroe

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written