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.

Example Sentences

“Please forgive me. I am so, so sorry,” it said.

From BBC

E.On said it was "deeply sorry" and that all identified affected customers have been contacted.

From BBC

A senior manager said the firm was "sorry" for its recent performance, which has "not been good enough".

From BBC

"I’m sorry for my part in not being able to protect your babies," he said.

From BBC

"Looking at you - and I'm sorry to say this - I wondered whether we'd ever see you cry," El-Bouroumi asked at one point.

From BBC

Related Words

• apologetic
• contrite
• regretful
• remorseful
• touched