pity
Americannoun
plural
pities-
sympathetic or kindly sorrow evoked by the suffering, distress, or misfortune of another, often leading one to give relief or aid or to show mercy.
to feel pity for a starving child.
- Synonyms:
- compassion, commiseration
-
a cause or reason for pity, sorrow, or regret.
What a pity you could not go!
adjective
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
idioms
noun
-
sympathy or sorrow felt for the sufferings of another
-
to have sympathy or show mercy for
-
something that causes regret or pity
-
an unfortunate chance
what a pity you can't come
-
it is highly regrettable (that)
verb
Related Words
See sympathy .
Other Word Forms
- outpity verb (used with object)
- pitying adjective
- pityingly adverb
- unpitied adjective
Etymology
Origin of pity
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English pite, from Old French pite, earlier pitet, from Latin pietāt- (stem of pietās “dutiful respect, sense of duty”); piety
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Major Puff almost pitied his enemy, who knew not what was coming.
From Literature
She looked at me now, and her eyes were so full of pity I thought I might be sick.
From Literature
She said it's a pity "that society wants to hide aging and death".
From Barron's
“I’m not suggesting anyone pity the poor rich. But as the ‘affordability’ debate bubbles on, it’s remarkable how far up the income bracket you can go and still feel squeezed,” says Zagare.
From MarketWatch
Rowan was filled with pity for his suffering and wonder at his courage.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
