tragically

Everyday

1. Tragically means in a very sad way, usually because someone died or something terrible happened. tree →
2. It can also introduce a sad fact: «Tragically, nobody survived.» tree →
3. (informal, joking) People sometimes use it to make a small disappointment sound huge: «Tragically, the shop had run out of chocolate.» tree →

In the lessons

Used in history lessons, news and stories to mark a terrible event and a serious, sad tone. At the start of a sentence it warns the reader that bad news is coming. In jokes it shows exaggeration. Phrases: «tragically died», «tragically short life», «tragically, …».

Examples

• The young explorer tragically died on the way home. tree →
• Tragically, the ship hit an iceberg and sank. tree →
• The famous singer's life was tragically short. tree →
• Many people were tragically hurt in the earthquake. tree →
• Tragically, the fire spread before help arrived. tree →
• Tragically, my sandwich fell face down in the mud. (joking) tree →
• Romeo and Juliet's story ends tragically. tree →

Note

Formed from «tragic» + «-ally»; spell it with «-ally», not «-ly» («tragicly» is wrong). The noun is «tragedy». Used for real deaths and disasters it is serious, so do not use it jokingly about real sad events.