apologize
Americanverb (used without object)
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apologizes,
present (3rd person singular)
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apologized,
past participle, past
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apologizing
present participle
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to offer an apology or excuse for some fault, insult, failure, or injury.
He apologized for accusing her falsely.
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to make a formal defense in speech or writing.
verb
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to express or make an apology; acknowledge failings or faults
-
to make a formal defence in speech or writing
Usage
Spelling tips for apologize The word apologize is hard to spell because it is pronounced like it might be spelled with two as and a j [ uh-pol-uh-jahyz ]. To make it even more confusing, apologize is the American English spelling of the word. In British English, it is spelled with an s: apologise. How to spell apologize: The easiest way to remember how to spell apologize is to break it into three parts: apo - log - ize. The suffix -ize is used to describe kinds of behavior. You can also pronounce it this way in your head to help the spelling stick.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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apologizesimple
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apologizessimple
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have apologizedperfect
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has apologizedperfect
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am apologizingprogressive
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are apologizingprogressive
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is apologizingprogressive
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have been apologizingperfect progressive
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has been apologizingperfect progressive
Past
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apologizedsimple
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had apologizedperfect
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was apologizingprogressive
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were apologizingprogressive
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had been apologizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of apologize
Explanation
When you apologize you admit that you did something wrong, and you say you’re sorry. The point of apologizing is usually to clear the slate and explain why you did what you did. We all make mistakes. Sometimes we even do bad things on purpose. But it can all be okay, so long as we apologize. Apologize comes from the Greek apologizesthai, which might be impossible to pronounce, but which means, “give an account.” When you accidentally run over your neighbor's flowerbed on your bike, you better be ready to apologize.
Vocabulary lists containing apologize
Bronx Masquerade
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Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
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The Contender
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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.
See Examples For:
The professor emailed me a few hours later to apologize.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
He said he hopes to be a dog trainer and groomer if he is released from prison—he’ll be 98 when his sentence ends—and he asked me to apologize to the Roebucks.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Eddie Murphy, who co-hosted the 1983 Emmys and withdrew from hosting the 2012 Oscars in solidarity with the now-canceled producer Brett Ratner, continues to apologize for his decades-old jokes about gay people.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
“I apologize for the delay in responding, as I was busy promoting my new album,” he wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
If I were Twig, I wouldn’t apologize for Clarissa, because at least she was walking around and talking and living—but I kept my mouth shut.
From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller
David has one errand of conscience before he goes to the clinic—he apologizes to a friend he once betrayed—but otherwise approaches death with the formality of a man keeping a schedule.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
In one, apparently written during or after an overseas golfing trip, Harp apologizes for having sprinted after the president for lack of a golf cart.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
Sent the day before, it apologizes for canceling his stay due to scaled-back capacity during opening week.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
“She apologizes and is sorry for the mistakes she has made in her personal life,” the statement added.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
Now he apologizes and tells her, “This afternoon I received bad news about Vincent again.”
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
He apologized for his role in the conversation, saying he “was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
Altman apologized on Friday to the people of Tumbler Ridge for not alerting police sooner to the suspect’s activity on ChatGPT.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
An Australian indoor fitness athlete apologized Thursday for continuing to participate in a recent competition after apparently soiling herself.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
He also apologized for befriending Oxford, and he signed off with a request to correspond and perhaps visit someday.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Auntie North apologized for not having anticipated that kind of challenge.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
When youngsters start apologizing for swearing in your presence, you’ve aged.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
McDaniel teased reporters when asked about Hampton’s expected usage, apologizing to fantasy owners for his inability to declare the running back the bell cow because of their other options he has to work with.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
Proponents like Liverpool owner John Henry wound up apologizing for mucking with the product.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
In a bid to unite the right before the convention, Flavio this week posted a video apologizing to Michelle, who quickly accepted the gesture of reconciliation.
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
He was tired of apologizing for other people’s sins.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
