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sad

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adjective British English pronunciation: sad /sæd/ 
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  1. 1
    feeling unhappy, especially because something bad has happened

    Reading her letter made us all feel a little sad.

    sad about:

    I felt sad about leaving him, but I had no choice.

    be sad to see/hear something:

    I was very sad to hear that your mother had died.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of sad
    1. a.
      [usually before noun] used about people's behaviour or appearance

      'I'm OK,' she said in a sad voice.

      sad eyes

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of sad
    2. b.
      making you feel unhappy

      It was a sad day when we sold our home.

      Dad waited until after dinner to tell us the sad news.

      The only sad thing was that Jim couldn't come to the party.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of sad
  2. 2
    [usually before noun] very bad in a way that makes you feel angry, upset, or shocked

    The sad truth is that many children never learn to read.

    it is sad that:

    I think it's sad that children spend so much time watching television.

    something is a sad reflection on something/someone (=it shows how bad something or someone is):

    Teachers' salaries are a sad reflection on our commitment to educating children.

    a sad state of affairs (=bad situation):

    It's a sad state of affairs when people can't be bothered to vote any more.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of sad
  4. 4
    very informal a sad person is someone who you think is boring or who behaves in a way that does not deserve respect

    I'm just one of those sad people who sit at home reading on Saturday night.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of sad

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This is the British English definition of sad. View American English definition of sad.

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