apologize

American  

[uh-pol-uh-jahyz] / əˈpɒl əˌdʒaɪz /

especially British, apologise

verb (used without object)

• apologizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• apologized,
  past participle,  past
• apologizing
  present participle

1. to offer an apology or excuse for some fault, insult, failure, or injury.

   He apologized for accusing her falsely.

2. to make a formal defense in speech or writing.

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apologize British  

/ əˈpɒləˌdʒaɪz /

verb

1. to express or make an apology; acknowledge failings or faults

2. to make a formal defence in speech or writing

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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

• apologizer
  noun
• unapologizing
  noun
• reapologize
  verb (used with object)

Inflected Forms

Participles

• apologizing
  present
• apologized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• apologize
  simple
• apologizes
  simple
• have apologized
  perfect
• has apologized
  perfect
• am apologizing
  progressive
• are apologizing
  progressive
• is apologizing
  progressive
• have been apologizing
  perfect progressive
• has been apologizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• apologized
  simple
• had apologized
  perfect
• was apologizing
  progressive
• were apologizing
  progressive
• had been apologizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will apologize
  simple
• will have apologized
  perfect
• will be apologizing
  progressive
• will have been apologizing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of apologize

First recorded in 1590–1600; apolog(y) + -ize

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

apologize apologizes apologized apologizing

He also privately approached Neil Patrick Harris to apologize for aggressively trying to out him as a gay man in 2006, before the actor had spoken about his sexuality publicly.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Her ticket ambassador approached her afterward to apologize.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026

Following the settlement, McAfee wrote to Martin to apologize, but also begged her to move on.

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026

“We made the wrong tradeoff and we apologize for not getting the balance right.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

“I do apologize, but we have strayed off topic. Where are my manners? I believe that introductions are in order. I don’t recall hearing your names.”

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

The young intern who shot us with a tranquilizer dart and then inserted that inexact analysis apologizes.

From Slate ● Jun. 13, 2026

And Nina Turner, another of the activists who led the boycott, said she wasn’t going to start shopping there again unless the company publicly apologizes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 11, 2026

The lawsuit includes screenshots of the alleged exchanges, including one in which Rodriguez apologizes for not staying in touch with the director due to personal matters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 29, 2025

In the pilot, she is insecure and self-effacing; when a car almost runs her over, she apologizes to the driver.

From Salon ● Dec. 15, 2025

The friar apologizes: “In short, his mathematical experiments have distracted him so much from painting that he cannot abide the paintbrush.”

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

To quickly recap: In 2019 the streamer said that America “deserved” 9/11, a comment he apologized for shortly afterward and has since disavowed.

From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2026

LemonLime co-founder Jordan Zietz apologized after offering instant job interviews to networking event attendees who agreed to get tattoos.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

He rolled back many of the counter-tariffs imposed by his predecessor Justin Trudeau and apologized to Trump for an ad paid for by the province of Ontario that featured then President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

When our Zoom began, she apologized for the noises outside — construction, dog walkers, gardeners.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

Whether I apologized or not, he’d get over his anger.

From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn

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

Bailey Zimmerman is apologizing after a warrant for the country singer’s arrest was issued following an incident at a New Mexico hotel.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

Nearby, Torres kept apologizing to people who asked for his business card — he didn’t have any on him.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026

The sentiment is unobjectionable, though the act of apologizing is made infinitely easier when the sins belong to unnamed others in centuries past.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

Lazlo laughed, and had to bite his tongue before apologizing for apologizing.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Related Words

• atone
• confess
• retract
• withdraw