Meaning & use
sad
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Unhappy because something bad has happened or because you wish things were different.
Grammar: Used after linking verbs like be, feel, look, seem: She felt sad.
Patterns
- sad about something
- sad that ...
- sad to hear/see ...
She was sad when her best friend moved away.
I felt sad about missing the party.
He looked sad after reading the letter.
adjectivebefore a noun
Making people feel unhappy or sympathetic; causing sorrow.
Grammar: Comes before a noun: a sad story, a sad day.
Patterns
- a sad story
- a sad occasion
- sad news
It was a sad story about a lost dog.
The funeral was a sad occasion for everyone.
We heard the sad news of his illness.
adjectivebefore a noundisapproving
Very bad or unacceptable in a way that makes you disappointed or critical.
Grammar: Often used before a noun to criticize something: a sad state of affairs.
Patterns
- a sad state of affairs
- a sad excuse for something
The team's performance was a sad disappointment to the fans.
It's a sad state of affairs when people can't trust their neighbors.
Word forms
| comparative | sadder |
|---|---|
| superlative | saddest |
Common combinations
- sad about
- She was sad about the way things turned out.
- sad to say
- Sad to say, the concert was canceled.
- deeply sad
- He felt deeply sad after the loss.
- sad news
- I have some sad news to share.
- sad face
- She made a sad face when she heard the news.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unhappy
- A general word for not being happy; it can be milder and less emotional than sad.
- sorrowful
- More formal and literary, suggesting deep, lasting sadness.
- melancholy
- A literary or formal word for a thoughtful, gentle sadness.
- depressed
- A stronger, medical word for a low mood that lasts a long time.
Opposites
Word family
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The usual preposition after 'sad' when talking about the cause is 'about': sad about the news. 'For' can mean feeling sympathy for someone, but not here; 'on' and 'with' do not fit this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sad”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.