Quick answer
Alack means an exclamation of sorrow, regret, or dismay. It is usually pronounced uh-LAK, and today it is mostly used in literary, humorous, or historical contexts rather than everyday speech.
Word page
Alack
Alack means an exclamation of sorrow, regret, or dismay. It belongs to shakespearean and stagey words and works best in playful writing, lively dialogue, and moments when plain wording feels too flat. It still feels usable today, especially when you want a word with more character than the plainest alternative.
At a glance
shakespeareanstageydramatic
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, alack refers to an exclamation of sorrow, regret, or dismay. It is most useful when a plain label would tell the truth but miss the tone, flavor, or comic edge.
Why this word feels absurd
Alack feels absurd because it has more texture than the plain alternative, giving the idea an extra bit of theatrical, comic, or overbuilt energy.
Origin and history
Alack is generally traced to older English exclamation related to alas. In modern use, the history matters less than the strong tone the word still carries.
Is this word still used today?
Alack is still usable today, especially when you want language that feels more distinctive than the plainest modern alternative.
Example sentences
- Alack, the pie had burned while everyone debated the sauce.
- The actor delivered “alack” with enough feeling for a royal funeral.
- In the parody, every small setback earns an “alack” and a dramatic pause.
- Alack, said the editor, there was still another round of revisions.
When should you use this word?
Use alack when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in playful writing, dialogue, and places where tone matters.
Similar words
Alas, Oh no, Woe, Dear me, Lament
Opposite or contrasting words
Hurrah, At last, Excellent
Why people search for this word
People usually search for alack because they have seen it in print, heard it aloud, or want to check whether its tone is comic, serious, archaic, or sharper than expected.
If that is why you landed here, compare it with Shakespearean and Stagey Words, browse the stronger A-words, and follow Shakespearean Insults for nearby pages that answer the same kind of search intent.
How to use it correctly
Use alack when you want the meaning to land quickly and the tone to do a little extra work at the same time.
Keep the surrounding sentence simple, then branch out through Old English Insults, the Shakespearean and Stagey Words shelf, and the A-words archive if you want close alternatives that still feel intentional rather than random.
That way the word sounds chosen for meaning and effect, not just dropped in because it looks unusual.
Common questions
- What does alack mean? Alack means an exclamation of sorrow, regret, or dismay.
- How do you use alack correctly? Use alack as a noun when you want a label with more tone than a neutral dictionary synonym. Keep the surrounding sentence simple enough for the word to do the interesting work. If you want nearby alternatives, try Shakespearean and Stagey Words , Words That Start With A , the Shakespearean and Stagey Words archive, or the full word browser . Do not use it just because it looks unusual. Alack works best when the tone in your sentence matches the meaning: an exclamation of sorrow, regret, or dismay, not random ornament.
- How do you pronounce alack? It is commonly pronounced uh-LAK.
- Is alack still used today? Alack still appears in modern English, but mostly when writers want extra tone, flavor, or historical color.
- What words are similar to alack? Related words include Alas, Oh no, Woe, Dear me.
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 9, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.