sorry

American  

[sor-ee, sawr-ee] / ˈsɒr i, ˈsɔr i /

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

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interjection

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

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

sorry British  

/ 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

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interjection

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

sorry Idioms  

1. see better safe than sorry.

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Related Words

See wretched.

Other Word Forms

• sorrily adverb
• sorriness noun
• unsorry adjective

Etymology

Origin of sorry

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

Example Sentences

"We recognise this has been disruptive and are sorry for the impact on residents," the spokesperson for the Unite Group said.

From BBC

When I try to talk to him, he brushes it aside, saying he “felt sorry for this woman,” whom he claims to have met in person.

From MarketWatch

But I'll always say it, don't ever feel sorry for a goalkeeper.

From BBC

Tell him: “I’m sorry you’re going through this, but this is what it will take for you to get back in the black.”

From MarketWatch

This man is Will, who, Phil realizes, has “contrived” the whole sorry scene.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• apologetic
• contrite
• regretful
• remorseful
• touched