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

The make-up of the team is a problem and I felt a bit sorry for fast bowler Sonny Baker, who was dropped for the second ODI after a difficult debut.

From BBC

It might feel natural to apologise, even if it's not your fault, but saying "I'm sorry" can sometimes be taken as an admission of guilt.

From BBC

"I'm sorry I didn't get here a few months ago," he said to staff, about when his planned visit had been postponed in March.

From BBC

When somebody wants an apology for a comment I always ask them, “How would that apology sound? I’m sorry that the jokes I made hurt your feelings?”

From Los Angeles Times

He added: "I know this causes disruption for our families and, most importantly, for the children's learning, and I am truly sorry for the inconvenience."

From BBC

Related Words

• apologetic 
• contrite 
• regretful 
• remorseful 
• touched