Definition

Feeling or showing deep sadness or grief.

Example

She had a sorrowful expression after hearing the bad news.

Conversation

I just watched that movie, and it was so sorrowful at the end.

Really? I heard it has a sad story.

Yeah, it left me feeling a bit sorrowful for the characters.

I can imagine! Those kinds of movies really hit hard.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Sorrowful → It is formed from "sorrow" (from Old English *sorg*, meaning grief or sadness) and "-ful" (meaning full of). The word "sorrowful" means full of sorrow or expressing grief.

Memory Tip

Think of feeling 'full of' ('-ful') 'grief' ('sorrow') — that's why sorrowful means to be filled with sadness.

Visually Confused Words