sorry
sorry — adjective
1. feeling unhappiness because of something you have done, and wishing you could un
feeling unhappiness because of something you have done, and wishing you could undo it or make it right — for example, saying you are sorry after hurting someone's feelings or breaking something.
Kwame looked at the broken window and told his mother he was sorry.
be sorry + telling someone after doing wrong
Trang felt sorry that she had forgotten her friend's birthday party.
feel sorry + that-clause
Luca wrote a long letter saying how sorry he was for the lie he told.
I am truly sorry for the trouble I caused at yesterday's meeting.
be sorry for + noun phrase
The little boy said sorry after he accidentally broke his sister's toy car.
- sorry about
- sorry for
- say sorry
- feel sorry
- apologetic
more formal; describes a person's manner rather than a feeling
- remorseful
stronger regret, often for something serious
- regretful
focuses on the wish that something had not happened
- unrepentant
not feeling any regret at all
Grammar Patterns
feel sorry about [something]
be sorry that [clause]
be sorry to [verb]
say sorry to [someone]
Usage Note
Commonly followed by 'about', 'for', 'that + clause', or 'to + infinitive'. The phrase 'say sorry' is an informal alternative to 'apologise'.
Common Mistakes
2. feeling sadness for another person's suffering or unfortunate situation — for in
feeling sadness for another person's suffering or unfortunate situation — for instance, feeling sorry for a neighbour who lost their job or a friend whose pet died.
We were all so sorry to hear that your grandmother passed away last week.
be sorry to hear + news of misfortune
Quinn felt sorry for the homeless cat shivering in the cold rain outside.
feel sorry for + someone suffering
Roya said she was sorry that her colleague had to move to another city.
I am sorry for anyone who lost their home in last year's earthquake.
The whole town felt sorry for the family whose house burned down on New Year's Eve.
- sorry to hear
- feel sorry for
- sorry for someone
- sympathetic
emphasises understanding of another's feelings
- compassionate
stronger, suggests wanting to help
- pitying
can sound condescending; use with care
- indifferent
not caring about another person's trouble
Grammar Patterns
feel sorry for [someone]
be sorry to hear [clause]
be sorry that [clause]
Usage Note
Frequently used with 'hear' — 'sorry to hear that…' is a standard way to show sympathy. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is about regretting your own action; sense 2 is about pitying someone else's misfortune.
Common Mistakes
3. feeling unhappiness about your own problems and believing that life has treated
feeling unhappiness about your own problems and believing that life has treated you unfairly — almost always used in the fixed phrase 'feel sorry for yourself'.
Takeshi stayed in bed all morning, feeling sorry for himself after failing his driving test.
feel sorry for himself (reflexive self-pity pattern)
Stop feeling so sorry for yourself — many people face bigger problems every day.
Instead of feeling sorry for herself, Stephanie signed up for a new training course.
Tara told her brother to stop moping around and feeling sorry for himself all weekend.
self-pity as a negative behaviour pattern
- feel sorry for yourself
- sorry for himself/herself
- self-pitying
adjective form, same meaning
- morose
gloomy and withdrawn, but not necessarily complaining
Grammar Patterns
feel sorry for yourself
sorry for yourself
Usage Note
Almost always uses a reflexive pronoun (yourself, himself, herself). The meaning is critical: it is not simply 'feeling bad' but carrying a tone of complaint or perceived unfairness. Not used in positive contexts.
Common Mistakes
4. used before giving information that will disappoint or upset someone — for examp
used before giving information that will disappoint or upset someone — for example, telling a customer that an item is sold out or announcing that an event will not happen.
I am sorry to tell you that your application for the job was not successful.
sorry to tell you + bad news
The airline was sorry to announce that all flights had been cancelled due to the storm.
We are sorry to inform our customers that the store will close early this Friday evening.
formal: sorry to inform + indirect object
Luca was sorry to report that the garden project had run out of money half way through.
The school is sorry to say that today's sports day has been postponed until next month.
- sorry to say
- sorry to tell
- sorry to inform
- sorry to announce
- regret to inform
more formal; used in official letters and announcements
- unfortunately
adverb, not a verb pattern
Grammar Patterns
be sorry to [verb] that [clause]
be sorry to say/tell/inform
Usage Note
The 'sorry' here does not express personal regret or apology — it is a polite formula to soften bad news. Common in formal announcements (sorry to inform, sorry to announce) and everyday speech (sorry to say).
Common Mistakes
5. used as a polite way to say no to an offer, invitation, or request — for instanc
used as a polite way to say no to an offer, invitation, or request — for instance, telling someone you cannot attend their party or that you disagree with their opinion.
I am sorry, but I will not be able to join you for dinner this Saturday evening.
sorry, but + polite refusal pattern
Tamar was sorry to turn down the promotion because it required a move to another country.
sorry to turn down + offer or invitation
We are sorry, but the hotel does not allow pets in any of its guest rooms.
Lucía was sorry to disagree with the plan because she found the costs far too high.
The manager said he was sorry, but the store policy did not allow refunds after thirty days.
- sorry, but
- sorry to refuse
- sorry to say no
- afraid
used similarly: 'I am afraid I cannot come' — slightly less formal
Grammar Patterns
be sorry, but [clause]
be sorry to [verb of refusing]
Usage Note
Typically followed by 'but' + the reason. Unlike sense 1, there is no regret about an action — the speaker is simply being polite while refusing. This pattern overlaps with sense 4 (bad news), but sense 4 introduces information the hearer does not expect, while sense 5 responds to a direct request.
Common Mistakes
6. so bad, poor, or sad that people feel disappointment or pity — used to describe
so bad, poor, or sad that people feel disappointment or pity — used to describe a thing, situation, or result that is far below an acceptable standard, such as a garden overgrown with weeds or a meal that is barely edible.
The abandoned house was in a sorry state, with broken windows and a leaking roof.
a sorry state — describing physical decay
After the storm, the garden was a sorry sight of fallen trees and muddy water.
His explanation for being late was a sorry excuse that nobody in the room believed.
The team's performance on Saturday was a sorry display of poor passing and slow running.
That old bicycle is in a sorry condition — both tyres are flat and the chain is rusted.
in a sorry condition — describing neglect
- sorry state
- sorry sight
- sorry excuse
- sorry condition
- sorry display
- pitiful
stronger emotional reaction; more sympathetic
- lamentable
more formal and dramatic
- wretched
emphasises misery or poor quality
- admirable
worthy of praise, the opposite of pitiful
- magnificent
far above the expected standard
Grammar Patterns
a sorry [state/sight/excuse/condition]
in a sorry [state/condition]
Usage Note
Always modifies a noun (sorry state, sorry sight, sorry excuse). It carries a critical tone — the speaker is expressing disapproval, not sympathy. This is the only sense where 'sorry' does not describe a person's feelings.
Common Mistakes
used to say that it is better to take careful action now, even if it takes extra time or effort, than to take a risk and regret it later.
Kwame decided to bring an umbrella even though the sky looked clear — better safe than sorry.
I always back up my computer files before a big update, because it is better to be safe than sorry.
To have a sad or sympathetic feeling toward someone because of their problems or suffering.
Maya felt sorry for the lost puppy and gave it water.
Are you sorry for your friend who failed the exam?
To feel unhappy and think too much about your own problems in a self-pitying way.
After losing the game, Tom felt sorry for himself all evening.
Don't feel sorry for yourself; get up and try again.
I’m sorry
idiomUsed to express regret or apologize for something you have done or said.
I'm sorry I stepped on your foot in the crowd.
I'm sorry, but I cannot attend the meeting tomorrow.
I’m sorry to say
idiomUsed to introduce disappointing or bad news in a polite way.
I'm sorry to say that the concert has been canceled.
I'm sorry to say, but your application was not successful.
sorry — exclamation
1. said as a quick apology for a small accident or mistake — for instance, when you
said as a quick apology for a small accident or mistake — for instance, when you bump into someone, interrupt a conversation, or arrive a few minutes late.
"Sorry!" Roya said as she accidentally bumped into a man on the crowded train.
single-word apology for accidental contact
"Sorry I am late," Trang whispered as she quietly slipped into her seat near the back.
Lucía knocked over a cup of tea and quickly said, "Sorry about that!"
Sorry about [that] — minor mishap
"Sorry for the noise," the neighbour called out from across the fence on Saturday morning.
Takeshi held the door and said sorry to the woman whose bag he had knocked off.
- Sorry!
- Sorry about
- Sorry for
- pardon
more formal; common in British English
- my apologies
formal; used in writing or serious situations
Grammar Patterns
Sorry!
Sorry about [something]
Sorry for [something]
Usage Note
This is the exclamation form, distinct from 'be sorry' (adjective sense 1). The exclamation is used for small, everyday apologies and is less formal. For serious matters, a fuller expression (I am so sorry / I apologise) is more appropriate.
Common Mistakes
2. said politely before refusing an offer, invitation, or request, or before statin
said politely before refusing an offer, invitation, or request, or before stating a different opinion — for example, declining a second helping of food or disagreeing with a suggestion at work.
"Sorry, but I cannot stay any longer," Tomás told his host at the party.
Sorry, but + explanation of refusal
"Sorry, I disagree with that idea," Quinn said quietly during the team meeting on Tuesday.
"Sorry, we do not accept credit cards here," the cashier told the customer at the counter.
Sorry + statement of policy or restriction
"Sorry — that seat is already taken," Tara told the tourist heading towards her table.
- Sorry, but
- Sorry, no
- Sorry, I cannot
- afraid
as in 'I am afraid not' — slightly softer
Grammar Patterns
Sorry, but [clause]
Sorry, [statement of refusal]
Usage Note
Similar to adjective sense 5 but used as a standalone interjection. This exclamation is very common in everyday spoken English. The 'sorry' itself does not express regret — it simply softens the refusal.
Common Mistakes
3. said with a rising tone to ask someone to repeat what they just said, or used at
said with a rising tone to ask someone to repeat what they just said, or used at the start of a polite interruption — for instance, when you did not hear a name clearly or need to leave a conversation early.
"Sorry?" Stephanie said, leaning closer because the music in the cafe was far too loud.
Sorry? (rising intonation) — asking to repeat
"Sorry to interrupt, but your taxi has just arrived at the front gate," said the receptionist.
Sorry to interrupt, but + interruption statement
"Sorry, could you say that again? The phone connection was very poor just now."
"Sorry? I did not catch your name — could you please repeat it?" Luca asked politely.
- Sorry?
- Sorry to interrupt
- Sorry, could you repeat
Grammar Patterns
Sorry?
Sorry to interrupt, but [clause]
Sorry, could you [repeat]?
Usage Note
The rising intonation is essential — 'Sorry?' said flat or falling sounds rude. 'Sorry to interrupt…' is a standard polite formula for breaking into a conversation. 'Pardon?' is a more formal alternative in British English.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
All four words describe a negative feeling about something one has done, but they differ in strength and focus. Sorry is the most general and informal — you can say it for bumping into someone or for a serious mistake. Apologetic describes a person's behaviour or tone rather than their inner feeling; an apologetic employee speaks politely and avoids eye contact after a mistake. Remorseful is much stronger and implies deep moral guilt — someone who cheated on a test might feel remorseful, not just sorry. Regretful focuses on the wish that events had turned out differently; you can be regretful about a missed opportunity that was not your fault, while sorry and remorseful imply personal responsibility. For everyday use, sorry covers most situations. For serious wrongdoing, remorseful is more appropriate, and for formal letters, regretful or apologetic fits better.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'sorry' comes from Old English 'sārig', meaning 'distressed, grieved, or full of sorrow'. It is related to the word 'sore' (both come from the same ancient root meaning 'pain' or 'suffering'). By the 1200s, 'sorry' was being used to describe both the feeling of grief and the feeling of regret for something one had done. The exclamation use — simply calling out 'Sorry!' — appeared around the 1500s. The sense describing something as pitiful or poor in quality (a sorry state) developed in the 1600s. The idiom 'better safe than sorry' was first recorded in the 1800s.