adj

sorrowful

SO-roh-fuhl

Sorrowful (adj) means feeling or showing deep sadness. Example: “She gave a sorrowful smile as she said goodbye.”

adj

Feeling or showing deep sadness.

"She gave a sorrowful smile as she said goodbye."

Causing sadness or grief.

"It was a sorrowful tale of loss and hardship."

How to use sorrowful

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFull of sorrow — sad, whether describing a person's expression or a sad event.

Common pairings

sorrowful expression sorrowful news a sorrowful sigh

Word forms

more sorrowful comparative, most sorrowful superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

She gave a _____ smile as she said goodbye.

Etymology

From sorrow + -ful, built the same way as "hopeful" or "joyful."

Frequently asked questions

What does “sorrowful” mean?

The word “sorrowful” means feeling or showing deep sadness. In plain terms, full of sorrow — sad, whether describing a person's expression or a sad event.

How do you pronounce “sorrowful”?

“Sorrowful” is pronounced SO-roh-fuhl (/ˈsɑɹoʊfəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “sorrowful” in a sentence?

Here is “sorrowful” used in a sentence: “She gave a sorrowful smile as she said goodbye.”

What part of speech is “sorrowful”?

“Sorrowful” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “sorrowful” have?

“Sorrowful” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: feeling or showing deep sadness.