sadly

American  

[sad-lee] / ˈsæd li /

adverb

1. in an unhappy, sorrowful, or regretful way; unfortunately; regrettably.

   Gun tracing is an attempt to answer the sadly common question of where the gun used in a crime came from.

   Sadly, the tourism and money brought in by the World Cup games won't benefit the people who need it most.

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Usage

What does sadly mean? Sadly means in an unhappy, sorrowful, or regretful way, as in Whenever my dog looks at me sadly, I can’t help but cuddle him.Sadly is frequently used to mean unfortunately, as in Sadly, he could not make the game today. This usage often gives a more emotional or sympathetic tone to a statement. It’s often used for disappointments, excuses, reports of loss, and any other scenario where something could be upsetting to the listener or reader.Example: We report sadly that we were unable to reach our financial goals this quarter.

Etymology

Origin of sadly

sad ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

The key action here involved saving your grandmother from being effectively imprisoned in her own home, which is sadly no longer an option now that she has died.

From MarketWatch

But I’ve tackled enough of it to inform you that, sadly, ignoring Charles Schwab or J. P. Morgan Chase will not make the ghosts of these greedy American business magnates go away.

From Salon

Many of us immediately believed the longtime activist not just because of her stature, but because we’re sadly too familiar with the script playing out in real time.

From Los Angeles Times

I’m sadly reminded of colleagues who never recovered, a sobering thought as we stare down the barrel of yet another employment crisis.

From Los Angeles Times

“All of the events that have been happening since last year, and accelerating this year, tells us that the need for defence is not going away. If anything, sadly, it’s getting stronger.”

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• wistfully