sorry
adjective/ˈsɒri/
/ˈsɑːri/
(comparative sorrier, superlative sorriest)
You can also use more sorry and most sorry.Idioms - [not before noun] feeling sad and ashamed about something that has been done
- sorry about something We're very sorry about the damage to your car.
- I'm sorry about the mess—I haven't had a chance to tidy up yet.
- sorry for something She is obviously deeply sorry for what she has done.
- We are sorry for the delay and hope the train will be moving again shortly.
- sorry for doing something He says he's really sorry for taking the car without asking.
- sorry (that)… She was sorry that she'd lost her temper.
- I am so sorry that this happened.
- If you say you're sorry we'll forgive you.
Express Yourself ApologizingApologizingWhen you have caused a problem for somebody, they are less likely to be angry if you can make a polite apology:- I'm so sorry I'm late.
- I'm terribly sorry for letting you down.
- I'm very sorry about that.
- I do apologize. I'll get you another cup.
- I must apologize for keeping you waiting.
- We would like to apologize on behalf of the management.
- We would like to offer our apologies for the inconvenience
- Please accept our apologies for the delay.
- That's all right.
- That's OK.
- No problem.
- Don't worry about it.
- It's fine, really.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- about
- for
- be sorry to disappoint somebody
- be sorry to hear about something/that…
- be sorry to interrupt (somebody/something)
- …
- [not before noun] feeling sad and showing sympathy
- sorry (that)… I'm sorry that your husband lost his job.
- sorry to do something We're sorry to hear that your father's in hospital again.
- I was sorry to see him go.
- sorry about somebody/something No one is sorrier than I am about what happened.
- I am sorry about the way Dad treated you.
- I'm sorry about your mother. I do hope she'll soon be feeling better.
- sorry for something I'm very sorry for your loss (= expressing sympathy when somebody has died).
Express Yourself Expressing sympathyExpressing sympathyIf somebody is ill, or something bad has happened to them, you can show them that you are sorry:- I'm sorry you're not well. I hope you feel better soon.
- I am sorry to hear that.
- That's bad luck.
- How awful for you.
- I'm sorry for your loss
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- about
- for
- be sorry to disappoint somebody
- be sorry to hear about something/that…
- be sorry to interrupt (somebody/something)
- …
- [not before noun] feeling disappointed about something and wishing you had done something different or had not done something
- sorry (that)… She was sorry that she'd lost contact with Mary.
- I'll make you sorry you were ever born!
- You'll be sorry if I catch you!
- sorry to do something I was genuinely sorry to be leaving college.
- She was almost sorry to stop work.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- about
- for
- be sorry to disappoint somebody
- be sorry to hear about something/that…
- be sorry to interrupt (somebody/something)
- …
- [only before noun] very sad or bad, especially making you feel pity or disapproval
- The business is in a sorry state.
- They were a sorry sight when they eventually got off the boat.
Word OriginOld English sārig ‘pained, distressed’, of West Germanic origin, from the base of the noun sore. The shortening of the root vowel has given the word an apparent connection with the unrelated sorrow.
Idioms
See sorry in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee sorry in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe/feel sorry for somebody
- to be sad or feel sympathy for somebody
- He decided to help Jan as he felt sorry for her.
better safe than sorry
- (saying) used to say that it is wiser to be too careful than to act too quickly and do something you may later wish you had not
- She decided to avoid travelling at night. Better safe than sorry.
feel sorry for yourself
- (informal, disapproving) to feel unhappy; to be sad about yourself because you are suffering
- Stop feeling sorry for yourself and think about other people for a change.
- Mitch felt slightly sorry for himself.
I’m sorry
- used when you are apologizing for something
- I'm sorry, I forgot.
- Oh, I'm sorry. Have I taken the one you wanted?
- I'm sorry. I can't make it tomorrow.
- I'm sorry to interrupt but there's an urgent call for you.
Extra Examples- I am sorry to disappoint you.
- I'm awfully sorry Jane can't come with us.
- I'm sorry about the noise.
- I'm terribly sorry. I didn't catch your name.
- used for disagreeing with somebody or politely saying ‘no’
- I'm sorry, I don't agree.
- I'm sorry, I'd rather you didn't go.
- used for introducing bad news
- I'm sorry to have to tell you you've failed.
I’m sorry to say
- used for saying that something is disappointing
- He didn't accept the job, I'm sorry to say.
Check pronunciation:
sorry