# tragically

/ˈtɹædʒɪkɫi/ (US) · /tɹˈædʒɪkli/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tragically
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

in a way that is very sad and usually involves death or serious loss. You use it to show that something is a terrible shame.

For teachers: in a manner that causes or involves great sadness, suffering, or death. Often functions as a disjunct to express the speaker's attitude toward the event being described.

## Examples

- Tragically, the young artist died before her first exhibition.
- The historic library was tragically destroyed in a fire just weeks before its grand reopening.
- The peace treaty was tragically ignored by both sides, leading to a decade of unnecessary conflict that devastated the region's economy and displaced thousands of families.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The accident happened tragic." but "The accident happened tragically." — Learners often use the adjective 'tragic' when the adverb 'tragically' is required to modify the verb or the entire sentence.

## Usage notes

- Sentence adverb — typically placed at the beginning of a sentence to set the tone for the entire statement.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.