| English Dictionary |
SORRY (sorrier, sorriest)
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
, sorriest Dictionary entry overview: What does sorry mean?
• SORRY (adjective)
The adjective SORRY has 4 senses:
1. feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
2. bad; unfortunate
3. without merit; of little or no value or use
4. causing dejection
Familiarity information: SORRY used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
| Declension: comparative and superlative |
Superlative: sorriest
Sense 1
Meaning:
Feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
Synonyms:
Context example:
he felt bad about breaking the vase
Also:
penitent; repentant (feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Bad; unfortunate
Synonyms:
deplorable; distressing; lamentable; pitiful; sad; sorry
Context example:
a sorry state of affairs
Similar:
bad (having undesirable or negative qualities)
Derivation:
sorriness (worthlessness due to insignificance)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Without merit; of little or no value or use
Synonyms:
good-for-naught; good-for-nothing; meritless; no-account; no-count; no-good; sorry
Context example:
the car was a no-good piece of junk
Similar:
worthless (lacking in usefulness or value)
Derivation:
sorriness (worthlessness due to insignificance)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Causing dejection
Synonyms:
blue; dark; dingy; disconsolate; dismal; drab; drear; dreary; gloomy; grim; sorry
Context example:
grim rainy weather
Similar:
cheerless; depressing; uncheerful (causing sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy)
Context examples
I am only sorry it was not recollected sooner, that I might have written home.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
"There," said he; "now you have a heart that any man might be proud of. I'm sorry I had to put a patch on your breast, but it really couldn't be helped."
(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)
"I am sorry to find you unwell," replied Anne.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
Not at all, Bessie; indeed, just now I'm rather sorry.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
I'm sorry I came here to-day and met you.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
“But I feel very sorry for the poor children, all the same,” said the man.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
“I am sorry to hear this,” said he.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
I am sorry for it, was his answer; but in this matter it is you who are to lead.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
I warrant that there are more sound ones than sorry, for he is quick at his work and a trifle dim in the eye.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
For my own part I was not sorry.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today." (Native American proverb, Cherokee)
"A spark can start a fire that burns the entire prairie." (Chinese proverb)
"He who seeks, finds." (Corsican proverb)