adv
Uncommon
sorely
SAW-lee
Sorely (adv) means Very much; to a severe or serious degree — usually paired with something negative or a strong need. Example: “The team is sorely lacking in experience.”
adv
1
Very much; to a severe or serious degree — usually paired with something negative or a strong need.
"The team is sorely lacking in experience."
"He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him."
How to use sorely
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn intensifier meaning "greatly" or "badly," almost always used with a negative feeling — missing, tempted, lacking, needed.
Common pairings
sorely missed
sorely tempted
sorely needed
sorely lacking
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more sorely
- Superlative
- most sorely
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The team is _____ lacking in experience.
Etymology
From Old English sarlice, built from sore + the adverb suffix -ly.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for sorely
See all rhymes for sorely →Frequently asked questions
What does “sorely” mean?
The word “sorely” means very much; to a severe or serious degree — usually paired with something negative or a strong need. In plain terms, an intensifier meaning "greatly" or "badly," almost always used with a negative feeling — missing, tempted, lacking, needed.
How do you pronounce “sorely”?
“Sorely” is pronounced SAW-lee (/ˈsɔɹli/ in IPA).
How do you use “sorely” in a sentence?
Here is “sorely” used in a sentence: “The team is sorely lacking in experience.”
What part of speech is “sorely”?
“Sorely” is an adverb.
Where does the word “sorely” come from?
The word “sorely” comes from Old English. From Old English sarlice, built from sore + the adverb suffix -ly.
Is “sorely” a common word?
“Sorely” is an uncommon word in modern English.
