adj
sorrowful
SO-roh-fuhl
Sorrowful (adj) means feeling or showing deep sadness. Example: “She gave a sorrowful smile as she said goodbye.”
adj
1
Feeling or showing deep sadness.
"She gave a sorrowful smile as she said goodbye."
2
Causing sadness or grief.
"It was a sorrowful tale of loss and hardship."
How to use sorrowful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFull of sorrow — sad, whether describing a person's expression or a sad event.
Common pairings
sorrowful expression
sorrowful news
a sorrowful sigh
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more sorrowful
- Superlative
- most sorrowful
Fill the gap
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."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
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.
