regret

American  

[ri-gret] / rɪˈgrɛt /

verb (used with object)

regretted, regretting

1. to feel sorrow or remorse for (an act, fault, disappointment, etc.).

   He no sooner spoke than he regretted it.

   Synonyms:

   grieve, sorrow, mourn, bemoan, bewail, lament, deplore

   Antonyms:

   rejoice

2. to think of with a sense of loss.

   to regret one's vanished youth.

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noun

1. a sense of loss, disappointment, dissatisfaction, etc.

2. a feeling of sorrow or remorse for a fault, act, loss, disappointment, etc.

   Antonyms:

   joy

3. regrets, a polite, usually formal refusal of an invitation.

   I sent her my regrets.

4. a note expressing regret at one's inability to accept an invitation.

   I have had four acceptances and one regret.

regret British  

/ rɪˈɡrɛt /

verb

1. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to feel sorry, repentant, or upset about

2. to bemoan or grieve the death or loss of

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noun

1. a sense of repentance, guilt, or sorrow, as over some wrong done or an unfulfilled ambition

2. a sense of loss or grief

3. (plural) a polite expression of sadness, esp in a formal refusal of an invitation

Usage

Regretful and regretfully are sometimes wrongly used where regrettable and regrettably are meant: he gave a regretful smile; he smiled regretfully; this is a regrettable (not regretful ) mistake; regrettably (not regretfully ) , I shall be unable to attend

Related Words

Regret, penitence, remorse imply a sense of sorrow about events in the past, usually wrongs committed or errors made. Regret is distress of mind, sorrow for what has been done or failed to be done: to have no regrets. Penitence implies a sense of sin or misdoing, a feeling of contrition and determination not to sin again: a humble sense of penitence. Remorse implies pangs, qualms of conscience, a sense of guilt, regret, and repentance for sins committed, wrongs done, or duty not performed: a deep sense of remorse.

Other Word Forms

• regretful adjective
• regretfully adverb
• regretfulness noun
• regrettable adjective
• regrettably adverb
• regretter noun
• regrettingly adverb
• unregretted adjective
• unregretting adjective

Etymology

Origin of regret

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English regrete, regretten (verb), from Middle French regreter, Old French, equivalent to re- re- + -greter, perhaps from Germanic ( greet ² )

Explanation

To regret something is to wish it had never happened. Wish you hadn't reached for that fourth piece of chocolate cake? You regret it. Regret is often called a useless emotion, because you can only regret what has already taken place. It's too late to change things, so all that's left to do is regret. Regret can also function as a noun, as in the feeling of regret you have when you realize that you should have been nicer to your kid sister and should have not locked her into the dog crate for the afternoon. You often hear people exclaim "No regrets!" when they talk about their life choices, but we're dubious because who doesn't have at least one horrible outfit in their memory that makes them cringe with a feeling of regret?

Example Sentences

Data now indicates mounting regret and disappointment among his base.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

That would be a smart play, because Kavanaugh himself has indicated that he might regret his “Kavanaugh stop” opinion.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2026

And though life off the mountain didn’t always go smoothly, he disdained regret.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Nearly three out of four Americans have a financial regret, according to an August 2025 Bankrate survey.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

I deeply regret we did not have the opportunity to meet again while you were in town.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• anguish
• annoyance
• apology
• bitterness
• concern
• contrition
• disappointment
• discomfort
• dissatisfaction
• grief
• heartache
• heartbreak
• misgiving
• nostalgia
• qualm
• remorse
• repentance
• sorrow
• uneasiness
• worry