Meaning of sorry in English

sorry

adjective

/ˈsɒr.i/ us

/ˈsɔːr.i/

sorry adjective (EXPRESSING REGRET)

used to say that you wish you had not done what you have done, especially when you want to be polite to someone you have done something bad to:

Oh, I'm sorry - I didn't see you there.

He'd really upset her and he didn't seem at all sorry.

sorry about Tom, I'm so sorry about last night - it was all my fault.

say sorry I've said I'm sorry.

Synonyms

contrite formal
regretful
remorseful formal
rueful literary

Compare

apologetic

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to apologize for something

apologizeUK I apologise for the error.
say sorryHe didn't even say sorry.
sorryI forgot your name, sorry.
make an apologyThe president made an apology to the people of Japan in a public speech.
express regretHe later expressed regret for portraying sharks as creatures that target human beings.

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More examplesFewer examples

I'm sorry that I wasn't able to phone you yesterday.
I'm sorry I'm late.
I'm genuinely sorry for what I said, I really am.
I'm sorry, I was only trying to be helpful.
I'm just sorry about messing him around again.
I'm so sorry to keep you waiting.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Making & accepting apologies

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sorry adjective (EXPRESSING SYMPATHY)

A2 [ after verb ]

feeling sadness, sympathy, or disappointment, especially because something unpleasant has happened or been done:

feel sorry for I feel so sorry for their kids - it must be really hard for them.

[ + (that) ] I'm sorry (that) you had such a difficult journey.

[ + to infinitive ] We were both sorry to hear you've been ill again.

feel sorry for yourself disapproving

to feel sad because you have a problem and you feel that it is not fair that you are suffering so much:

He sounded very sorry for himself on the phone.

I'm sorry to say

used to show that something that must be said causes sadness or disappointment:

I'm sorry to say that I'm sorry to say that the project's funding has been cancelled.

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I feel sorry for the kids, too - they've had a hard time.
I was sorry to hear about your trouble on holiday.
I feel so sorry for people in that situation.
I'm sorry you're ill - I hope you get well soon.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Feeling sad and unhappy

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sorry adjective (SAYING NO)

I'm sorry

used to show politeness when refusing something or disagreeing:

I'm sorry, but I think you've made a mistake.

sorry adjective (BAD CONDITION)

sorry sight, state, tale, etc.

a bad condition or situation:

He was a sorry sight when he got home - soaking and covered in mud.

sorry

exclamation

/ˈsɒr.i/ us

/ˈsɔːr.i/

sorry exclamation (APOLOGY)

used when apologizing for something:

"That's my foot you're stepping on." "Sorry!"

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to apologize for something

apologizeUK I apologise for the error.
say sorryHe didn't even say sorry.
sorryI forgot your name, sorry.
make an apologyThe president made an apology to the people of Japan in a public speech.
express regretHe later expressed regret for portraying sharks as creatures that target human beings.

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More examplesFewer examples

Sorry - I didn't catch what you said.
Sorry, could you say that again?
Sorry, this area is closed to the public.
Sorry, I can't let you in without identification.
Sorry, can I see your pass?

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Making & accepting apologies

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sorry exclamation (POLITE NEGATIVE)

used to show politeness when refusing something or disagreeing:

Sorry, you can't go in there.

used when politely asking someone to repeat something or when politely interrupting someone:

"He's late." "Sorry?" "I said he's late."

Sorry, could you just say that last sentence again please?

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Polite expressions

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Idiom

sorry not sorry

(Definition of sorry from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

sorry | American Dictionary

sorry

adjective

/ˈsɑr·i, ˈsɔr·i/

sorry adjective (ASKING FORGIVENESS)

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feeling bad because you have caused trouble or difficulty to someone else:

[ + (that) clause ] I’m really sorry (that) I forgot about our appointment yesterday.

Sorry is also used as a polite way to show your sympathy to someone because of a loss, problem, or trouble the person has had:

[ + to infinitive ] We were sorry to learn about the death of your grandmother.

Sorry is also used as a polite way of asking someone to excuse you for having done something that might have annoyed the person:

The train will be moving shortly – we are sorry for the inconvenience.

sorry adjective (POLITE REFUSAL)

used as a polite way of expressing refusal or disagreement:

I’m sorry, but I think you’ve made a mistake in our check.

Sorry, you can’t go in there.

sorry adjective (BAD CONDITION)

[ -er/-est only ] dated

so bad as to cause feelings of sympathy:

They were a sorry sight, dressed in rags and so weak they could hardly stand up.

Note:

describing a situation or condition

(Definition of sorry from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of sorry

sorry

Based on our review of the literature, we identified seven apology terms (sorry, apologize, excuse, pardon, regret, afraid, forgive).

From the Cambridge English Corpus

On the contrary, the soldiers whose task it was to guard them reportedly felt sorry for their plight and treated them with affection.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

I'm sorry, but mediation is not the fastest and most efficient option - but settlement is.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Proponents of the ban, however, justified a complete ban on the basis of the precautionary principle that it is better to be safe than sorry.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

I am sorry if this criticism is upsetting to the authors who have taken the trouble to describe their work for us.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

But nothing she said or did could undo his sorry fate.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Many factors contribute to this sorry state of affairs.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

I am sorry this conflict is coming just now.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

This provided, by any reckoning, only sorry comfort.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

This book examines the whole sorry but fascinating tale in great detail.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Parents still grieve and ask in bewilderment why matters have come to such a sorry pass.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

One may feel vindictive towards or sorry for the other player.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Another area where culturally determined usage is observable is the use of sorry on every occasion that requires sympathy.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Its purely scientific side is sufficiently good to make one sorry that it was not done better.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Hasn't our long, sorry history of exclusion taught us anything?

From the Cambridge English Corpus

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These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

What is the pronunciation of sorry?