[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/sore/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / sore # sore adjective (sorer, sorest); noun (a sore, sores) «sore» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Sore means painful, aching or tender, especially when touched or used. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sore/#m1) 2. A sore is a painful spot on the skin, often red or broken. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sore/#m2) 3. Sore (informal, mostly American) means upset or annoyed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sore/#m3) 4. A sore point is a subject that upsets someone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sore/#m4) ### In the lessons In health lessons, a sore throat often comes with a cold; sore muscles come after exercise; a sore that does not heal should be shown to a doctor. In everyday talk, "a sight for sore eyes" is someone you are very happy to see. Phrases: sore throat, sore eyes, sore muscles, a cold sore, a sore loser (someone who is angry when they lose), stick out like a sore thumb. ### Examples - I have a sore throat and a cough. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sore/#x1) - My legs are sore after the race. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sore/#x2) - He has a cold sore on his lip. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sore/#x3) - My eyes are sore from the swimming pool. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sore/#x4) - Don't be a sore loser — shake hands. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sore/#x5) - Her red hat stuck out like a sore thumb. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sore/#x6) - You're a sight for sore eyes! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sore/#x7) - And his nose was all sore. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sore/#x8) ### Note Do not confuse sore (painful) with saw (past of see, and a tool) or soar (fly high) — they can sound the same. A sore loser is someone who complains or sulks when losing; good sportsmanship means losing kindly. ## In Jewish tradition The prophets use it the same way: God was "sore displeased" and the famine "sore" in Samaria. It can also mean "very much", as in "afflict us very sore". In the primary lessons: In health lessons, a sore throat often comes with a cold; sore muscles come after exercise; a sore that does not heal should be shown to a doctor. In everyday talk, "a sight for sore eyes" is someone you are very happy to see. Phrases: sore throat, sore eyes, sore muscles, a cold sore, a sore loser (someone who is angry when they lose), stick out like a sore thumb. ### Examples - And the famine was sore in the land. (Torah GEN.43.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sore/#x1) - And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy corn; because the famine was sore in all the earth. (Torah GEN.41.57, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sore/#x2) - And now that thou art surely gone, because thou sore longest after thy father's house, wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?' (Torah GEN.31.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sore/#x3) - And the famine was sore in Samaria. (Prophets 1KI.18.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sore/#x4) - 'The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers. (Prophets ZEC.1.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sore/#x5) - Wilt Thou hold Thy peace, and afflict us very sore? (Prophets ISA.64.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sore/#x6) ### Note Do not confuse sore (painful) with saw (past of see, and a tool) or soar (fly high) — they can sound the same. A sore loser is someone who complains or sulks when losing; good sportsmanship means losing kindly. ## Early Modern English ### Meaning Severe or very great, as in a very bad famine. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/S/sore/#m1) ### Then and now Today sore means painful or aching. The famine sentences use the old sense of severe; the nose sentence uses today's sense. ### Examples - And the famine was sore in the land. (Torah GEN.43.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/S/sore/#x1) - And his nose was all sore. (The Jungle Book) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/S/sore/#x2) - And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy corn; because the famine was sore in all the earth. (Torah GEN.41.57, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/S/sore/#x3) ### Note Today: severe, very great. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «sore» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sore/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«sore» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sore.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «sore» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sore/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«sore» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/sore.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «sore» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/S/sore/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«sore» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/sore.html) on Mova free.