sadly

[sad-lee]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sadly¹

sad ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Speaking only about the good prevents us from doing better and leads to a juvenile worldview that’s sadly taken hold in the White House and beyond.

From Los Angeles Times

Det Ch Insp Lee Wilson said Mr Scott was a "man of huge integrity and bravery who did the right thing and who sadly paid the ultimate price by doing so".

From BBC

That Salazar died in the course of doing his job has sadly eclipsed what he actually wrote, so I always encourage people to read his columns.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Gallagher said he had had a "working relationship" with Ms Upton for five years, including "providing funerals for people's loved ones that have sadly passed away".

From BBC

Earlier, Turners Funfairs posted on Facebook that it was "heartbroken" that "one of our much-loved colleagues has sadly passed away following a tragic accident".

From BBC

Related Words

• wistfully 

When To Use

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.