Word
sorrowful
Phoneticssor·row·ful, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɑɹoʊfəɫ/
UK/sˈɒɹəʊfəl/
Definitions
01feeling or showing sadness
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
adj. feeling or showing great sadness, often in a quiet or serious way.
adj. exhibiting or expressing deep sorrow, grief, or regret. Often used to describe a person's facial expression, voice, or general demeanour.
“She gave him a sorrowful look as he prepared to leave for the airport.”
“The widow stood by the window with a sorrowful expression, watching the rain wash away the footprints in the garden.”
Usage
Commonly modifies nouns related to expression, such as 'look', 'eyes', 'voice', or 'smile'.
02causing sadness
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal · Literary
adj. causing you to feel deep sadness or grief.
adj. inducing or characterized by sorrow; distressing or tragic in nature.
“It was a sorrowful day for the whole town when the old library burned down.”
“The historian recounted the sorrowful events that led to the collapse of the peace treaty and the subsequent conflict.”
Teaching tip
While 'sad' is the everyday choice, 'sorrowful' adds a layer of weight and formality, often implying a long-lasting or profound grief.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English sorweful, from Old English sorhful, sorgful (“full of care; anxious; sorrowful”), from Proto-Germanic *surgafullaz (“full of care; anxious”), equivalent to sorrow + -ful. Cognate with Old High German sorgfol (“careful; anxious”), Norwegian sorgfull (“sorrowful”), Icelandic sorgfullur (“lamentable”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/sorrowful