pity

UK: /ˈpɪti/ US: /ˈpɪti/ ,(pit′ē)

Inflections of 'pity' (n): npl: pities

Inflections of 'pity' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

pities

v 3rd person singular

pitying

v pres p

pitied

v past

pitied

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pit•y /ˈpɪti/   n., pl. pit•ies, v., pit•ied, pit•y•ing. 
n. 

1. sympathetic or kindhearted sorrow for, or sensitiveness to, another's suffering, distress, or misfortune:
   [uncountable] felt pity for her.
2. a cause or reason for pity, sorrow, or regret:
   [countable* usually singular;
   a + ~] What a pity you couldn't go!
   [It + be + ~ + (that) clause]
   It's a pity (that) you can't come to the party.

v. [~ + object]

3. to feel pity for;
   be sorry for:
   He pitied the poor immigrants who worked in sweatshops.

Idioms

4. Idioms have or take pity on, [~ + object] to have compassion for, or show mercy to:
   begged him to have pity on the political prisoners.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pit•y  (pit′ē), n., pl. pit•ies, v., pit•ied, pit•y•ing. 
n. 

1. 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 astarving child.
2. a cause or reason for pity, sorrow, or regret:
   What a pity you could not go!
3. Idioms have or take pity. to show mercy or compassion.

v.t. 

4. to feel pity or compassion for;
   be sorry for;
   commiserate with.

v.i. 

5. to have compassion;
   feel pity.

• Latin pietāt- (stem of pietās) piety
• Old French pite, earlier pitet
• Middle English pite 1175–1225

Synonyms

• 1. commiseration, compassion. See sympathy. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pity / ˈpɪtɪ/ noun (pities)

1. sympathy or sorrow felt for the sufferings of another
2. have pity on, take pity on ⇒ to have sympathy or show mercy for
3. something that causes regret or pity
4. an unfortunate chance: what a pity you can't come

verb (pities, pitying, pitied)

1. (transitive) to feel pity for

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French pité, from Latin pietās duty

ˈpitying adjective

ˈpityingly adverb