# sadly

Pronunciation: say "SAD-lee" /ˈsædli/

## Adverb

1. Used to express that something is unfortunately the case; regrettably.
   - Simple: Used to show that something is true but makes you feel sad or sorry.
   - _Sadly, the funding was withdrawn before the project could begin._
   - _The negotiations, sadly, collapsed at the very last stage._
2. In a sorrowful manner; in a way that shows or expresses sadness.
   - Simple: In a way that shows you feel sad.
   - _The child waved sadly to her friends from the back of the car._
   - _He spoke sadly of the home he had left behind._
3. In a manner that causes sadness; to a bad or regrettable degree.
   - Simple: In a way that is bad or wrong enough to make people sad.
   - _Anyone who expected an easy victory was sadly mistaken._
   - _The report was sadly deficient in hard evidence._

## Adverb

4. To a great and pressing degree, said of how much someone wants or needs something. *(dated)*
   - Simple: Very much, said of how strongly someone wants or needs something.
5. Deeply; completely; to the fullest extent. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: In a deep or complete way.

## Origin

From Middle English sadly, formed from sad plus the suffix -ly.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/sadly (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).