Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense pities, present participle pitying, past tense, past participle pitied
1. uncountable noun
If you feel pityfor someone, you feel very sorry for them.
He felt a sudden tender pity for her. [+ for]
She knew that she was an object of pity among her friends.
Synonyms: compassion, understanding, charity, sympathy More Synonyms of pity
2. See also self-pity
3. verb
If you pity someone, you feel very sorry for them.
I don't know whether to hate or pity him. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: feel sorry for, feel for, sympathize with, grieve for More Synonyms of pity
4. singular noun
If you say that it is a pity that something is the case, you mean that you feel disappointment or regret about it.
[feelings]
It is a great pity that all pupils in the city cannot have the same chances.
Pity you haven't got your car, isn't it.
It seemed a pity to let it all go to waste.
5. uncountable noun
If someone shows pity, they do not harm or punish someone they have power over.
One should avoid showing too much pity.
She saw no pity in their faces.
6.
See more's the pity
7.
See for pity's sake
8.
See take pity on someone
9.
See the pity is that/the pity of it is that
More Synonyms of pity
pity in British English
(ˈpɪtɪ)
nounWord forms: pluralpities
1.
sympathy or sorrow felt for the sufferings of another
2. have pity on
3.
something that causes regret or pity
4.
an unfortunate chance
what a pity you can't come
5. more's the pity
verbWord forms: pities, pitying or pitied
6. (transitive)
to feel pity for
Derived forms
pitying (ˈpitying)
adjective
pityingly (ˈpityingly)
adverb
Word origin
C13: from Old French pité, from Latin pietās duty
pity in American English
(ˈpɪti)
nounWord forms: pluralˈpities
1.
sorrow felt for another's suffering or misfortune; compassion; sympathy
2.
the ability to feel such compassion
3.
a cause for sorrow or regret
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈpitied or ˈpitying
4.
to feel pity (for)
Idioms:
have pity on
SYNONYMY NOTE: pity implies sorrow felt for another's suffering or misfortune, sometimes connoting slightcontempt because the object is regarded as weak or inferior [he felt pity for a man so ignorant]; compassion implies pity accompanied by an urge to help or spare [moved by compassion, I did not press for payment]; commiseration implies deeply felt and openly expressed feelings of pity [she wept with her friend in commiseration]; sympathy, in this connection, implies such kinship of feeling as enables one to really understandor even to share the sorrow, etc. of another [he always turned to his wife for sympathy]; condolence now usually implies a formal expression of sympathy with another in sorrow [a letter of condolence]
Derived forms
pityingly (ˈpityingly)
adverb
Word origin
ME pite < OFr pitet < L pietas: see piety
Examples of 'pity' in a sentence
pity
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
A great pity because some of your pictures are truly memorable.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Pity to waste a disaster.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She said: 'It is a pity because she is a much admired person.
The Sun (2008)
He said: 'It is a pity it is going where it is.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
pity
British English: pity /ˈpɪtɪ/ NOUN
If you feel pity for someone, you feel very sorry for them.
He felt pity for her.
American English: pity
Arabic: حَنان
Brazilian Portuguese: compaixão
Chinese: 憾事
Croatian: sažaljenje
Czech: lítost
Danish: medlidenhed
Dutch: medelijden
European Spanish: lástima pena
Finnish: sääli
French: pitié
German: Mitleid
Greek: συμπόνοια
Italian: pietà
Japanese: 哀れみ
Korean: 동정
Norwegian: medlidenhet
Polish: litość
European Portuguese: compaixão
Romanian: milă
Russian: жалость
Latin American Spanish: lástima
Swedish: medlidande
Thai: ความสงสาร
Turkish: acıma duygu
Ukrainian: жалість
Vietnamese: lòng thương
British English: pity /ˈpɪtɪ/ VERB
If you pity someone, you feel very sorry for them.
I don't know whether to hate or pity him.
American English: pity
Arabic: يُشْفِقُ عَلى
Brazilian Portuguese: ter pena
Chinese: 怜悯
Croatian: žaliti
Czech: litovat někoho
Danish: have ondt af
Dutch: medelijden hebben
European Spanish: compadecer
Finnish: sääliä
French: avoir pitié de
German: bemitleiden
Greek: συμπονώ
Italian: avere pietà
Japanese: 哀れむ
Korean: 불쌍히 여기다
Norwegian: synes synd på
Polish: pożałować
European Portuguese: ter pena
Romanian: a compătimi
Russian: жалеть
Latin American Spanish: compadecer
Swedish: tycka synd om
Thai: สงสาร
Turkish: acımak duygu
Ukrainian: жаліти
Vietnamese: thương hại
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'pity'
self-pity
Self-pity is a feeling of unhappiness that you have about yourself and your problems , especially when this is unnecessary or greatly exaggerated.
pity party
a episode of indulgent self-pity
have pity on
to have sympathy or show mercy for
for pity's sake
You can say for pity's sake to add emphasis to what you are saying , especially when you are annoyed or upset .
more's the pity
If you add more's the pity to a comment , you are expressing your disappointment or regret about something.
take pity on someone
If you take pity on someone, you feel sorry for them and help them.
the pity is that/the pity of it is that
If you say the pity is that , or the pity of it is that , before a comment , you are emphasizing your disappointment or regret about something.
Chinese translation of 'pity'
pity
(ˈpɪtɪ)
n
(u) (= compassion) 同情 (tóngqíng)
(= misfortune)
it is a pity that ... 真遗(遺)憾 ... (zhēn yíhàn ... )
vt
[person]同情 (tóngqíng)
to take pity on sb怜(憐)悯(憫)某人 (liánmǐn mǒurén)
what a pity!真可惜! (zhēn kěxī!)
All related terms of 'pity'
self-pity
自怜(憐) zìlián
what a pity!
真可惜! zhēn kěxī!
to take pity on sb
怜(憐)悯(憫)某人 liánmǐn mǒurén
it is a pity that ...
真遗(遺)憾 ... zhēn yíhàn ...
a stab of pain/pity/jealousy
一阵(陣)疼痛/怜(憐)悯(憫)/嫉妒 yī zhèn téngtòng/liánmǐn/jídù
1 (noun)
Definition
sorrow felt for the sufferings of others
He felt a sudden tender pity for her.
Synonyms
compassion
They preach universal kindness and compassion.
understanding
We would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.
charity
He had no sense of right and wrong, no charity, no humanity.
sympathy
We expressed our sympathy for her loss.
distress
sadness
sorrow
kindness
We have been treated with such kindness by everybody.
tenderness
She smiled, politely, rather than with tenderness.
condolence
She sent him a letter of condolence.
commiseration
I was moved to tears of pity and deep commiseration.
fellow feeling
There is genuine fellow feeling for the victims.
Opposites
anger
,
fury
,
cruelty
,
indifference
,
brutality
,
scorn
,
wrath
,
severity
,
disdain
,
apathy
,
ruthlessness
,
inhumanity
,
unconcern
,
hard-heartedness
,
mercilessness
,
pitilessness
2 (noun)
Definition
a cause of regret
It's a pity you couldn't come.
Synonyms
shame
What a shame you can't go!
crime (informal)
Much of the city's crime revolves around protection rackets.
sin (informal)
Sin can be forgiven, but never condoned.
misfortune
He had had his full share of misfortunes.
bad luck
sad thing
bummer (slang)
crying shame
source of regret
3 (noun)
a killer who had no pity for his victims
Synonyms
mercy
Neither side showed its prisoners any mercy.
kindness
clemency
The prisoners' pleas for clemency were turned down.
leniency
The judge rejected pleas for leniency.
forbearance
a high degree of tolerance and forbearance
quarter
It is brutal work, with no quarter given.
(verb)
Definition
to feel pity for
I don't know whether to hate him or pity him.
Synonyms
feel sorry for
feel for
sympathize with
I must tell you how much I sympathize with you for your loss.
grieve for
weep for
take pity on
empathize with
bleed for
commiserate with
have compassion for
condole with
phrase
See take pity on something or someone
Additional synonyms
in the sense of charity
Definition
a kindly attitude towards people
He had no sense of right and wrong, no charity, no humanity.
Synonyms
kindness,
love,
pity,
humanity,
affection,
goodness,
goodwill,
compassion,
generosity,
indulgence,
bounty,
altruism,
benevolence,
Agape,
fellow feeling,
benignity,
bountifulness,
tenderheartedness,
aroha (New Zealand)
in the sense of clemency
Definition
mercy
The prisoners' pleas for clemency were turned down.
Synonyms
mercy,
pity,
humanity,
compassion,
kindness,
forgiveness,
indulgence,
leniency,
forbearance,
quarter,
mercifulness
in the sense of commiseration
I was moved to tears of pity and deep commiseration.
Synonyms
sympathy,
pity,
compassion,
consolation,
condolence,
fellow feeling
Synonyms of 'pity'
pity
Explore 'pity' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of condolence
Definition
sympathy expressed for someone in grief or pain
She sent him a letter of condolence.
Synonyms
sympathy,
pity,
compassion,
consolation,
commiseration,
fellow feeling
in the sense of crime
Definition
unlawful acts collectively
Much of the city's crime revolves around protection rackets.
Synonyms
lawbreaking,
corruption,
delinquency,
illegality,
wrong,
vice,
sin,
guilt,
misconduct,
wrongdoing,
wickedness,
iniquity,
villainy,
unrighteousness,
malefaction,
e-crime or ecrime,
cybercrime
in the sense of fellow feeling
Definition
sympathy existing between people who have shared similar experiences
There is genuine fellow feeling for the victims.
Synonyms
sympathy,
understanding,
concern,
care,
pity,
compassion,
feeling,
empathy
in the sense of forbearance
a high degree of tolerance and forbearance
Synonyms
patience,
resignation,
restraint,
tolerance,
indulgence,
long-suffering,
moderation,
self-control,
leniency,
temperance,
mildness,
lenity,
longanimity (rare)
in the sense of kindness
Definition
the quality of being kind
We have been treated with such kindness by everybody.
Synonyms
goodwill,
understanding,
charity,
grace,
humanity,
affection,
patience,
tolerance,
goodness,
compassion,
hospitality,
generosity,
indulgence,
decency,
tenderness,
clemency,
gentleness,
philanthropy,
benevolence,
magnanimity,
fellow-feeling,
amiability,
beneficence,
kindliness,
generosity
in the sense of leniency
The judge rejected pleas for leniency.
Synonyms
mercy,
compassion,
clemency,
quarter,
pity,
tolerance,
indulgence,
tenderness,
moderation,
gentleness,
forbearance,
mildness,
lenity
in the sense of misfortune
Definition
an unfortunate event
He had had his full share of misfortunes.
Synonyms
mishap,
loss,
trouble,
trial,
blow,
failure,
accident,
disaster,
reverse,
tragedy,
harm,
misery,
setback,
hardship,
calamity,
affliction,
tribulation,
whammy (informal),
misadventure,
bummer (slang),
mischance,
stroke of bad luck,
evil chance
in the sense of quarter
Definition
mercy or pity shown to a defeated opponent
It is brutal work, with no quarter given.
Synonyms
mercy,
pity,
compassion,
favour,
charity,
sympathy,
tolerance,
kindness,
forgiveness,
indulgence,
clemency,
leniency,
forbearance,
lenity
in the sense of sin
Definition
sine
Sin can be forgiven, but never condoned.
Synonyms
wickedness,
wrong,
evil,
crime,
error,
trespass,
blasphemy,
immorality,
transgression,
iniquity,
irreverence,
sinfulness,
impiety,
unrighteousness,
ungodliness
in the sense of sympathize with
Definition
to feel or express sympathy for
I must tell you how much I sympathize with you for your loss.
Synonyms
feel for,
pity,
empathize with,
commiserate with,
bleed for,
have compassion for,
grieve with,
offer consolation for,
condole with,
share another's sorrow,
feel your heart go out to
Additional synonyms
in the sense of sympathy
Definition
understanding of other people's problems
We expressed our sympathy for her loss.
Synonyms
compassion,
understanding,
pity,
empathy,
tenderness,
condolence(s),
thoughtfulness,
commiseration,
aroha (New Zealand)
in the sense of tenderness
She smiled, politely, rather than with tenderness.
Synonyms
gentleness,
love,
affection,
liking,
care,
consideration,
sympathy,
pity,
humanity,
warmth,
mercy,
attachment,
compassion,
devotion,
kindness,
fondness,
sentimentality,
benevolence,
humaneness,
amorousness,
warm-heartedness,
softheartedness,
tenderheartedness
in the sense of understanding
We would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.