Word
sore
US/ˈsɔɹ/
UK/sˈɔː/
Definitions
01physically painful
B1 · Intermediate Medicine
adj. feeling painful or tender, especially because of an injury, infection, or too much exercise.
adj. causing physical pain or discomfort; characterized by tenderness or inflammation of a body part.
“My muscles are really sore after going to the gym for the first time in months.”
“The patient complained of a sore throat and persistent fatigue, suggesting a viral infection rather than simple seasonal allergies.”
02upset or angry
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. feeling angry, annoyed, or upset about something, especially because you feel you were treated unfairly.
adj. feeling resentment, animosity, or irritation; often used in the phrase 'sore loser'.
“He is still a bit sore about not getting the promotion he wanted.”
“The opposition leader remained sore after the narrow defeat, refusing to congratulate the winner during the televised press conference.”
03a skin injury
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. a painful, red, or infected place on your skin.
n. a localized area of injured, inflamed, or diseased skin or mucous membrane.
“The hiker had a painful sore on his heel where his boot had rubbed.”
“The tropical climate made it difficult for the open sores on his legs to heal properly without specialized antibiotic ointment.”
04very much
C1 · Advanced Archaic · Literary
adv. extremely or very much — used when talking about something bad or difficult.
adv. to a great or extreme degree; used as an intensifier for negative states or needs.
“The soldiers were sore afraid as the storm grew louder in the dark forest.”
“The kingdom was sore pressed by enemies on all sides, its resources depleted after years of continuous border skirmishes.”
Etymology
From Middle English sor, from Old English sār (“ache, wound”, noun) and sār (“painful, grievous”, adjective), from Proto-West Germanic sair, from Proto-Germanic sairaz (adjective) from Proto-Indo-European sh₂eyro-, enlargement of sh₂ey- (“to be fierce, afflict”). See also Dutch zeer (“sore, ache”), Danish sår (“wound”), German sehr (“very”); also Hittite [script needed] (sāwar, “anger”), Welsh hoed (“pain”), Ancient Greek αἱμωδία (haimōdía, “sensation of having teeth on edge”).
From Middle English sor (“sorrel”), from Old French sor (“sorrel; reddish”). Compare French saur (“(archaic) reddish-brown; describing a young bird of prey”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
02. sore point
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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