sorrow
C1Formal, literary, and general. More common in written and reflective contexts than casual speech.
Definition
Meaning
A feeling of deep sadness, distress, or regret, typically caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune.
A state of sorrowful reflection or grief; can also refer to a specific cause or instance of grief. As a verb, to feel or express sorrow.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Sorrow implies a profound, often reflective or enduring sadness, deeper and more inward than 'sadness'. It is often associated with loss, remorse, or pity. Not typically used for minor annoyances.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more literary/formal in both varieties. Equally understood.
Frequency
Used with similar frequency in both BrE and AmE, perhaps marginally more in BrE in certain formal/religious contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
feel sorrow for/over/at somethingexpress sorrow for/at somethingbe filled with sorrowto one's sorrowmore in sorrow than in angerVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “drown one's sorrows”
- “more in sorrow than in anger”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in formal communications expressing sympathy (e.g., 'We express our sorrow at your loss').
Academic
Used in literary analysis, psychology, theology, and history to describe emotional states.
Everyday
Used in serious personal contexts (death, major loss). Less common for daily trivialities.
Technical
Not typically a technical term. May appear in psychology or counselling contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She sorrowed for weeks after her friend emigrated.
- They sorrowed over the closure of the village school.
American English
- He sorrowed at the news of his grandfather's passing.
- The nation sorrowed for the victims of the tragedy.
adverb
British English
- (Sorrowfully) He shook his head sorrowfully.
- (Sorrowfully) She smiled sorrowfully and turned away.
American English
- (Sorrowfully) He spoke sorrowfully of the missed opportunity.
- (Sorrowfully) The letter ended sorrowfully.
adjective
British English
- (Sorrowful) She gave him a sorrowful look.
- (Sorrowful) His face was sorrowful and tired.
American English
- (Sorrowful) He spoke in a sorrowful tone about the incident.
- (Sorrowful) It was a sorrowful day for the community.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He felt great sorrow when his pet died.
- Her face showed her sorrow.
- The whole village was filled with sorrow after the accident.
- I would like to express my sorrow for your loss.
- She looked at the ruined painting with a profound sense of sorrow.
- His memoirs are tinged with sorrow for the past.
- He spoke more in sorrow than in anger about his colleague's betrayal.
- The poem explores the inexorable nature of human sorrow.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SORROW' as 'SO ROW' - imagine feeling so sad you're rowing a boat alone on a grey, misty lake.
Conceptual Metaphor
SORROW IS A WEIGHT/BURDEN (e.g., 'weighed down with sorrow'), SORROW IS A FLUID (e.g., 'filled with sorrow', 'drown in sorrow').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid overusing 'грусть' (grust') which is closer to 'sadness/melancholy'. 'Sorrow' is deeper. The closer match is 'горе' (gore) or 'скорбь' (skorb'), but these also imply grief/mourning.
- Do not confuse with 'sorrel' (щавель) or 'sorry' (извините).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sorrow' for mild disappointment (e.g., 'I felt sorrow my team lost' is too strong).
- Incorrect preposition: 'sorrow of something' (use 'sorrow at/for/over').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely context for the word 'sorrow'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Sadness is a broad, general term for an unhappy emotional state. Sorrow is a deeper, more profound, and often more enduring feeling, typically linked to specific loss, grief, or regret.
Yes, but it is quite formal and literary (e.g., 'She sorrowed in silence'). In everyday speech, phrases like 'feel sorrow', 'grieve', or 'mourn' are more common.
Yes, 'sorrowful' is the standard adjective. Other words like 'sorrowing' exist but are archaic or poetic.
No. The correct structures are 'I feel sorrow', 'I am sorrowful', or 'I am full of sorrow'.