sorrowful
gb/sˈɑɹoʊfəl/ us/sˈɑɹoʊfəl/
B2
English
~ 26400
szomorú, bánatos, bús, bűnbánó
B2
LITERARY
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] looks sorrowful about [something]
She gave him a sorrowful look as the train pulled away.
Szomorú pillantást vetett rá, amikor a vonat elindult.
His eyes were dark and sorrowful after the funeral.
A temetés után sötét és szomorú volt a tekintete.
The children grew quiet and sorrowful when they heard the news.
He walked home with a slow, sorrowful step.
Her voice was low and sorrowful as she spoke about her father.
Learner examples
The girl looked sorrowful when her dog was sick.
A lány szomorúnak látszott, amikor beteg volt a kutyája.
His sorrowful eyes made me want to help him.
A szomorú szeme láttán segíteni akartam neki.
After the game, the players were silent and sorrowful.
She sounded sorrowful on the phone.
He sat alone, sorrowful and tired.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "sorrowful" in everyday, casual situations where native speakers would say "sad" (for example, "I am sorrowful because I lost my keys" sounds too strong and literary). Another common confusion is with "sorry": "sorrowful" means deeply sad, while "sorry" often means apologetic or mildly sad about something.
Meaning
feeling or showing deep sadness
Collocations
sorrowful eyes
|sorrowful expression
|sorrowful face
|looked sorrowful
|sorrowful voice
|sorrowful smile
Synonyms
sad (More common and neutral; can describe any level of unhappiness and is less intense than many uses of "sorrowful".)
|
mournful (Very similar, but especially suggests the grief that follows a loss or death.)
|
downcast (Focuses more on a person's lowered mood or spirits; slightly less intense and more casual than "sorrowful".)
Antonyms
cheerful (Describes someone who feels and shows happiness, the opposite emotional state of sorrowful.)
|
joyful (Emphasizes strong, positive happiness, directly contrasting with deep sadness.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Feeling very sad, and often showing it in your face, voice, or actions.
Experiencing or visibly expressing deep unhappiness, grief, or distress.
B2
LITERARY
2
Usage pattern:
a sorrowful [story/event/song]
It was a sorrowful story about a family separated by war.
Szomorú történet volt egy családról, amelyet szétszakított a háború.
A slow, sorrowful song played on the radio as the credits rolled.
Ahogy futott a stáblista, lassú, szomorú dal szólt a rádióban.
The film ends on a quiet, sorrowful note.
They had to share the sorrowful news with the rest of the team.
The book is full of sorrowful scenes of loss and loneliness.
Learner examples
We watched a very sorrowful movie last night.
Tegnap este egy nagyon szomorú filmet néztünk.
She wrote a sorrowful poem about her childhood.
Szomorú verset írt a gyerekkoráról.
The singer's sorrowful voice made the song stronger.
The letter contained sorrowful news about his health.
It was a long, sorrowful story about a broken family.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "sorrowful" for small, everyday problems (for example, "a sorrowful bus delay"), which sounds too dramatic. In many casual contexts, "sad" or "unhappy" is more natural.
Meaning
causing deep sadness or grief
Collocations
sorrowful story
|sorrowful song
|sorrowful scene
|sorrowful ending
|sorrowful news
Synonyms
sad (The basic, everyday word; "sorrowful" sounds more serious and literary.)
|
tragic (Suggests extreme or shocking sadness, often involving death or disaster; stronger than most uses of "sorrowful".)
|
poignant (Focuses on a deep, touching sadness that affects the feelings strongly; often used for art and stories.)
Antonyms
cheerful (Describes something that creates a happy feeling, the opposite of a sorrowful story or scene.)
|
uplifting (Describes something that makes people feel hopeful or inspired instead of sad.)
Themes
emotions
|art
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Making people feel very sad, or full of very strong sadness.
Causing people to feel deep sadness, grief, or pain, or filled with such sadness.
C1
LITERARY
3
bűnbánó
B2
Usage pattern:
a sorrowful [apology/admission/confession]
He wrote a long, sorrowful apology to the people he had hurt.
Hosszú, bűnbánó bocsánatkérő levelet írt azoknak, akiket megbántott.
Her sorrowful confession finally brought the truth into the open.
Bűnbánó vallomása végül napvilágra hozta az igazságot.
With a sorrowful shake of his head, he admitted that he had lied.
The letter had a sincere, sorrowful tone that showed he truly regretted his actions.
They listened in silence to the man's sorrowful explanation of what he had done.
Learner examples
He sent a sorrowful email to say he was wrong.
Bűnbánó e-mailt küldött, hogy elismerje, tévedett.
She gave a sorrowful apology to her friend.
Bűnbánóan kért bocsánatot a barátjától.
His sorrowful words showed he really felt bad.
The boy made a sorrowful confession to his parents.
Her face was sorrowful as she said, "I am sorry."
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "sorrowful" directly with "for" in everyday apologies (for example, "I am sorrowful for being late"), which sounds unnatural or overly dramatic. In modern English, people usually say "I'm very sorry" or "I feel terrible" instead; "sorrowful" is mostly used in more literary or serious descriptions of regret.
Meaning
deeply regretful and sad
Collocations
sorrowful apology
|sorrowful admission
|sorrowful confession
|sorrowful repentance
Synonyms
remorseful (Very close in meaning, but more common in modern formal English for strong regret and guilt.)
|
repentant (Often used in moral or religious contexts for someone who deeply regrets their sins or wrong actions.)
|
contrite (Formal literary word meaning deeply and sincerely sorry for wrongdoing; similar strength to "sorrowful" in this sense.)
Antonyms
unrepentant (Describes someone who does not feel or show regret for their actions, the opposite of feeling sorrowful for wrongdoing.)
|
defiant (Suggests a proud refusal to feel or show regret, contrasting strongly with a sorrowful, apologetic attitude.)
Themes
emotions
|morality
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Feeling very sad and sorry because you did something wrong.
Feeling and showing deep sadness and regret for something wrong, hurtful, or harmful that one has done.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sorrowful
IPA
GB/sˈɑɹoʊfəl/
US/sˈɑɹoʊfəl/
Syllables & stress
sor - row - ful (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sor)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: sorrowful
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.