Synonyms

regrettably

American

[ri-gret-uh-blee] / rɪˈgrɛt ə bli /

adverb

unfortunately.

Regrettably, those countries that have contributed the least to the problem are facing the gravest consequences.
The student’s regrettably short attention span resulted in a series of near failures.

Usage

What does regrettably mean? Regrettably means in a manner of regret or disappointment, as in Regrettably, I won’t be able to go to your birthday celebration.Regrettably is most often used at the beginning of a sentence to describe how the speaker or writer feels about what follows in the rest of the sentence.Example: I have regrettably made a choice that has ruined my evening plans.

Other Word Forms

unregrettably adverb

Etymology

Origin of regrettably

regrettab(le) ( def. ) + -ly

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.

"The Education Authority has therefore regrettably been required to identify a series of significant savings measures."

From BBC

And the lone reinforcement the front office acquired at what now feels like a regrettably quiet trade deadline, Brock Stewart, is uncertain to return from a bothersome shoulder problem.

From Los Angeles Times

"We have to focus on the savings because regrettably the finances of this country are in terrible, terrible trouble," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

From BBC

That direction, regrettably, is more attuned to our times.

From Salon

It knows my height, my weight, my hydration, my cardio stamina — even, regrettably, my body’s visceral fat percentage.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023