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

In its statement, Rockstar said it was "sorry for adding additional time" to a long wait and thanked fans for their patience.

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I feel sorry for Toffees boss David Moyes because Beto has also missed so many wonderful opportunities that his side have created this season.

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"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he howled, as he revealed to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor.

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The killer's parents apologised to the families at the hearing, saying they were "profoundly sorry" for their "failure".

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He said he was sorry—because he genuinely was.

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Related Words

• apologetic 
• contrite 
• regretful 
• remorseful 
• touched