Word
sorely
Phoneticssore·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɔɹɫi/
UK/sˈɔːli/
Adverb of degree
Definitions
01very much or desperately
C1 · Advanced Formal
adv. you use this to say that something is very much needed or that you feel a loss deeply.
adv. used as an intensifier to emphasize a state of need, lack, or disappointment; frequently collocates with 'missed', 'needed', or 'tempted'.
“The extra help in the kitchen was sorely needed during the busy holiday weekend.”
“After the sudden departure of the lead architect, his expertise and calm leadership were sorely missed by the entire design team.”
Usage
Commonly precedes past participle adjectives like 'needed', 'missed', 'tempted', or 'disappointed'.
Pitfall
I was sorely happy to see him.
I was very happy to see him.
Sorely is almost always used with negative or 'lacking' contexts (missed, tempted, disappointed), not for positive emotions like happiness.
Teaching tip
Advise students that 'sorely' has a narrow range of collocations; it is not a general substitute for 'very' and usually implies a sense of pain or lack.
Synonyms
02in a painful way
C2 · Proficiency Literary · Archaic
adv. in a way that causes physical or mental pain.
adv. in a manner that causes or is characterized by physical soreness or acute distress.
“His legs were sorely aching after he finished the twenty-mile race.”
“The soldiers were sorely pressed by the advancing forces, struggling to maintain their position under heavy fire.”
Usage
Often used to describe physical pain or being under extreme pressure.
Teaching tip
This literal sense is rare in modern conversation; it is mostly found in older literature or formal historical accounts.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Liverpool’s attackers were full of the speed and invention sorely lacking for much of last season.” “If they hoped the trip to Meadow Lane would be the start of the uplift, they were sorely misguided.” Etymology
From Middle English sorely, from Old English sārlīċ (adjective), sārlīċe (adverb); equivalent to sore + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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