sad

The word “sad” means feeling sorrow or unhappiness. In plain terms, feeling or causing unhappiness.

“Sad” is pronounced SAD (/ˈsæd/ in IPA).

Here is “sad” used in a sentence: “She felt sad after saying goodbye to her old friends.”

Words with a similar meaning to “sad” include atrabiliary, atrabilious, blitheless, dispirited, blue and bummed out.

The opposite of “sad” — its antonyms — are blissed out, blissful, cock-a-hoop, content and delighted.

“Sad” is an adjective.

The word “sad” comes from Old English. From Old English sæd, originally meaning "full" or "sated" — the modern sense of unhappiness developed later, via a stage meaning "serious" or "grave.".

“Sad” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

Sadness is a normal, usually temporary emotion, a natural response to loss or disappointment that lifts with time. Depression is a persistent medical condition, lasting weeks or longer, that affects sleep, energy, and interest in life. Feeling sad is part of being human; depression usually needs proper support or treatment.

The main opposites are 'happy', 'glad', and 'joyful', all describing a positive, contented mood. 'Cheerful' and 'upbeat' work when you mean a lively, bright disposition. Which fits best depends on whether you mean a deep sense of joy or simply a light, good-humored frame of mind.

When plain 'sad' feels too mild, stronger choices include 'heartbroken', 'miserable', 'devastated', and 'grief-stricken' for deep sorrow. 'Down', 'blue', and 'glum' suggest a lighter, passing low mood. Picking the right word depends on how intense the unhappiness is and how long it is likely to last.

The two are close and often interchangeable. 'Sad' points to an active feeling of sorrow, often tied to a specific cause like bad news. 'Unhappy' describes a broader state of dissatisfaction that can simmer quietly; you can be generally unhappy with a job without feeling acutely sad at any single moment.