What does sorrow mean?
Sorrow is a noun meaning deep sadness or distress, particularly the grief caused by loss, misfortune, disappointment, or regret. Unlike the general word “sadness,” sorrow often suggests a serious, weighty, or enduring emotional experience. It can describe an inward feeling, as in “a heart filled with sorrow,” or refer to the source of that feeling, as in “the sorrows of war.” In everyday use, people may use sorrow for especially significant disappointments and losses, while literature and religious writing often employ it in a solemn or elevated register. Its established associations with grief, suffering, and emotional depth make it more evocative than a simple statement that someone is sad. Related forms include the adjective “sorrowful” and the adverb “sorrowfully.”
A feeling of deep sadness or distress, especially caused by loss, disappointment, or misfortune.
"Her voice was filled with sorrow as she remembered the old house."
More formal and solemn than sadness; often used for profound or lasting grief.
A source or occasion of grief, regret, or misfortune.
"The partition of the country became a lasting sorrow for many families."
Frequently used in literary, historical, and formal contexts.
The plural is used especially for individual sources of grief or misfortune, and in literary expressions such as “the sorrows of life.”
"She bore her sorrows with quiet dignity."
Sorrow has carried a sense of weight and solemnity for centuries, from Old English poetry to modern songs about loss.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sorrow come from?
Sorrow descends from Old English sōrġ, a word meaning care, grief, or sorrow, and is related to the Germanic root represented also in “sorry.” The modern English form developed through Middle English, in which sorrow continued to denote emotional distress and worldly care. The word's cognate “sorry” preserves a related idea, but its modern meanings emphasize regret, apology, or sympathy rather than grief itself.
Related word forms
How sorrow is actually used
Sorrow is more formal and emotionally weighty than sadness. It often suggests profound grief, sustained grief, or a dignified response to loss, though it is also used poetically for lighter regret.
Easily confused with sorrow
Sorrow is a feeling of distress or grief, whereas sorry describes a person who feels regret or apologizes for something.