sorry

[ sor-ee, sawr-ee ]

adjective

, sor·ri·er, sor·ri·est.

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. usually postpositiveoften foll byfor 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

Derived Forms

• ˈsorrily, adverb
• ˈsorriness, noun

Other Words From

• sorri·ly adverb
• sorri·ness noun
• un·sorry 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.

Related Words

• apologetic
• contrite
• regretful
• remorseful
• touched