sore
/sɔː(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /sɔːr/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsȯr/ (ame, mw) · /sɔːr/ (bre, ipa)
sore — adjective
- sorepositive
- sorercomparative
- sorestsuperlative
1. describing a body part that is painful, often because of an injury, an infection
describing a body part that is painful, often because of an injury, an infection, or overuse during physical activity
After the long hike, Kabir's legs were so sore that he could barely walk.
collocation: sore legs / sore muscles
The nurse told Yasmin to gargle warm salt water for her sore throat.
collocation: sore throat
Iris woke up with a stiff neck and sore shoulders after sleeping awkwardly.
Rafael applied an ice pack to his sore ankle to bring down the swelling.
Hyun's arms were sore the morning after he helped his friend move furniture.
- painful
broader term; can describe any degree or cause of physical discomfort, not limited to muscle ache or minor conditions
- tender
specifically means painful when touched or pressed, as with a bruise or inflamed area
- aching
describes a steady, dull pain that continues over time rather than a sharp feeling
- pain-free
describes a body part that does not hurt at all
- comfortable
describes a state of ease with no physical discomfort
用法筆記
Commonly used after verbs like feel, be, get, and look. Unlike painful, which can describe any cause of discomfort, sore usually refers to the dull ache that follows physical exertion or minor illness.
常見錯誤
2. feeling upset or annoyed because something that happened to you seems unfair or
feeling upset or annoyed because something that happened to you seems unfair or unjust
Still sore about the argument, Sivan refused to speak to her brother for a week.
collocation: sore about [event]
The players felt sore after the referee made a decision that cost them the match.
Do not be sore just because Vivek got the promotion instead of you.
Christopher was sore at his roommate for taking food he had not offered.
What made Anya sore was that no one had told her about the schedule change.
文法句型
be + sore + about/at/over + [reason]
get + sore + about/at/over + [reason]
用法筆記
Usually predicative (used after a verb, not before a noun). You can be sore about an event, sore at a person, or sore over a situation. The related fixed noun phrase 'a sore loser' describes someone who gets angry when they lose a game or competition.
常見錯誤
sore — noun
- soresingular
- soresplural
1. a red, painful spot on the skin, often caused by an infection or by something ru
a red, painful spot on the skin, often caused by an infection or by something rubbing against the body repeatedly
The doctor looked at the sore on Élise's arm and called it a mild rash.
collocation: sore on [body part]
Amihan cleaned the sore carefully before putting a fresh bandage over it.
The patient developed a painful open sore after lying in bed for many weeks.
Wearing tight shoes can cause a sore on your heel that takes days to heal.
用法筆記
This noun refers to a visible skin problem (wound, ulcer, blister), not to general physical discomfort. For general body pain, use the adjective 'sore' (e.g. 'My back is sore') instead.
常見錯誤
sore — adverb
1. used before certain adjectives or past participles to mean very much or deeply,
used before certain adjectives or past participles to mean very much or deeply, especially when expressing a strong need or a feeling of loss
The family was sorely disappointed when their vacation plans fell through.
collocation: sorely disappointed
Good teachers are sorely needed in rural schools across the country.
collocation: sorely needed
The community sorely missed the library after it closed due to budget cuts.
The charity's resources were sorely tested by the sudden rise in families needing help.
用法筆記
In modern English, the adverb is almost always written as 'sorely' (with -ly). The bare form 'sore' used as an adverb (e.g. 'sore afraid') is archaic and appears only in older literature or biblical texts. Learners should use 'sorely' in everyday writing and speech.