sorry

[sor-ee, sawr-ee]

adjective

sorrier, sorriest 

1. feeling regret, compunction, sympathy, pity, etc..

   to be sorry to leave one's friends; to be sorry for a remark; to be sorry for someone in trouble.

   Synonyms: pitying, sympathetic, regretful
   Antonyms: happy

2. regrettable or deplorable; unfortunate; tragic.

   a sorry situation; to come to a sorry end.

3. sorrowful, grieved, or sad.

   Was she sorry when her brother died?

   Synonyms: depressed, unhappy

4. associated with sorrow; suggestive of grief or suffering; melancholy; dismal.

   Synonyms: painful, mournful, grievous

5. wretched, poor, useless, or pitiful.

   a sorry horse.

   Synonyms: worthless, paltry, contemptible, abject, shabby

interjection

1. (used as a conventional apology or expression of regret).

   Sorry, you're misinformed. Did I bump you? Sorry.

sorry

/ ˈsɒrɪ /

adjective

1. feeling or expressing pity, sympathy, remorse, grief, or regret

   I feel sorry for him

2. pitiful, wretched, or deplorable

   a sorry sight

3. poor; paltry

   a sorry excuse

4. affected by sorrow; sad

5. causing sorrow or sadness

interjection

1. an exclamation expressing apology, used esp at the time of the misdemeanour, offence, etc

Other Word Forms

• sorrily adverb
• sorriness noun
• unsorry adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sorry¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sārig; cognate with Low German sērig, Old High German sērag. See sore, -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sorry¹

Old English sārig; related to Old High German sērag; see _sore

Idioms and Phrases

see better safe than sorry.

Synonym Study

See wretched.

Example Sentences

"We in no way supported him or agreed with any of his actions in the past four years. We are truly sorry for all that you had to endure."

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"Does the punishment fit the crime? Probably not. I kind of feel sorry for him that he wasn't handled better."

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"No! I didn't realise I locked it in, sorry!" she shouted.

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"However, we are sorry to hear of the experience some patients have shared about their needs not being met whilst in our care," they added.

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Bellamy denied and disputed the allegations and was not the subject of any disciplinary proceedings, but did issue a statement at the time saying he was "truly sorry" if he had offended anyone.

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Related Words

• apologetic 
• contrite 
• regretful 
• remorseful 
• touched