excuse
verb (used with object)
to regard or judge with forgiveness or indulgence; pardon or forgive; overlook (a fault, error, etc.).
excuses
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pluralof excuse.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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present tense formof excuse (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
excuseverb (used with object)to regard or judge with forgiveness or indulgence; pardon or forgive; overlook (a fault, error, etc.).
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She remembers making a series of excuses to Sudeikis.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
It set the tone for a culture of not making excuses, as did his involvement in a staff match before the squad flew out.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
When people notice his plentiful bruises, Almásy makes up excuses, leading them to think he’s a klutz.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
Yet, even under the new rules, landlords were finding excuses to refuse potential tenants with pets, according to Russell Hunt, founder of Pets Lets, which matches clients with pet-friendly rentals.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
My excuses to Jeff were pretty lame, too: I had to clean my room, move some plants, rake my grandparents’ yard … After a while, he stopped asking and did more things with Rich instead.
From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott
