Sorry

/ˈsɑːri/

adjective

Feeling regret or sadness because of something you did wrong or something bad that happened.

I'm sorry for your loss

Often appears as...

i'm sorry
sorry state

adjective

Used to politely ask for something to be repeated or to interrupt someone.

Sorry, could you say that again?

Often appears as...

sorry
what?

adjective

In a bad or pitiful state or condition.

That's a sorry excuse for a meal

Often appears as...

sorry state
sorry sight

Usage tips

Disapproving

interjection

Used to express apology.

Oops, sorry! I didn't see you there

Often appears as...

sorry!
sorry about that

Usage tips

Colloquial

adjective

Feeling regret or sadness because of something you did wrong or something bad that happened.

I'm sorry for your loss

Often appears as...

i'm sorry
sorry state

adjective

Used to politely ask for something to be repeated or to interrupt someone.

Sorry, could you say that again?

Often appears as...

sorry
what?

adjective

In a bad or pitiful state or condition.

That's a sorry excuse for a meal

Often appears as...

sorry state
sorry sight

Usage tips

Disapproving

interjection

Used to express apology.

Oops, sorry! I didn't see you there

Often appears as...

sorry!
sorry about that

Usage tips

Colloquial

Definition 1 of 4

Pro Tip 1/3

Expressing Regret

Use 'sorry' when you genuinely regret a mistake or harm you've caused, showing empathy.

I'm sorry I lost your book.

Pro Tip 2/3

Personal Apology

'Sorry' can indicate personal responsibility and is often more sincere than 'apologies.'

I'm sorry I was late to the meeting.

Pro Tip 3/3

Emotional Impact

'Sorry' can be used to express sympathy even if you are not directly involved in the situation.

I'm so sorry to hear about your illness.

Pro Tip 1/3

Expressing Regret

Use 'sorry' when you genuinely regret a mistake or harm you've caused, showing empathy.

I'm sorry I lost your book.

Pro Tip 2/3

Personal Apology

'Sorry' can indicate personal responsibility and is often more sincere than 'apologies.'

I'm sorry I was late to the meeting.

Pro Tip 3/3

Emotional Impact

'Sorry' can be used to express sympathy even if you are not directly involved in the situation.

I'm so sorry to hear about your illness.

Pro Tip 1/3

Expressing Regret

Use 'sorry' when you genuinely regret a mistake or harm you've caused, showing empathy.

I'm sorry I lost your book.

Pro Tip 2/3

Personal Apology

'Sorry' can indicate personal responsibility and is often more sincere than 'apologies.'

I'm sorry I was late to the meeting.

Pro Tip 3/3

Emotional Impact

'Sorry' can be used to express sympathy even if you are not directly involved in the situation.

I'm so sorry to hear about your illness.

Compare with

apologeticapologeticallycontritepenitentpenitentialregretfulremorsefulrepentantrueful

Look up Compare with

Visual representation of the word "Sorry"

Never forget "Sorry"

Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!

Video examples

Could comets be the...

or the wrath of gods. But recent research has revealed that comets may be even more deeply connected to humanity and our presence on Earth than any of these mythical explanations suggested. When you think of our Solar System, you probably imagine the nine, sorry eight, planets orbiting the Sun.

Video examples

Own the Room PIPE Official...

this is a world-changing idea this is a competition where people can come from difficult backgrounds and still make it my mom told me you have a story that deserves to be heard i'm so sorry everybody that comes here wants to win the companies that exist

Video examples

Hair-Raising Hyena...

didn't realize it was quite that tough on them i kind of feel sorry for them it's hard to believe a helpless newborn cub outranks even the oldest male in the clan with a ranking system like this finding a mate can't be easy for the males

Video examples

How to raise a Black son...

he derided me for being so naive. Looked me in the eye, fear consuming his face, and said, "Son, I'm sorry, but you can't act the same as your white friends. You can't pretend to shoot guns.

Video examples

Bear Gives a Warning...

Hey... I don't really have to tell you how magical this is, because who in the world wouldn't want to do this? Okay. Hey, girl. I'm sorry. No, no.

Video examples

A Collection Of Wild...

this footage is incredibly rare and it's the first time many of the russian researchers have seen shots like these sorry repeat show them again

Video examples

Sweaty Mudskippers Try...

boobs you uh sorry did i just say it out loud well they said we couldn't do it louis but here we here we are finally out of the water

Video examples

Animals Being Bros PIPE BBC...

But he'll never be fit enough for release into the wild. The film crew can't help feeling sorry for him.

Video examples

Best Lion Moments Part 2...

sorry my dear sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry let's have a look at the claws you're

Video examples

How math saved my life PIPE...

said he'd a clicker here sorry about that I didn't get it clicker sorry thank

Video examples

Could comets be the...

Video examples

Own the Room PIPE Official...

Video examples

Hair-Raising Hyena...

Video examples

How to raise a Black son...

he derided me for being so naive. Looked me in the eye, fear consuming his face, and said, "Son, I'm sorry, but you can't act the same as your white friends. You can't pretend to shoot guns.

Video examples

Bear Gives a Warning...

Hey... I don't really have to tell you how magical this is, because who in the world wouldn't want to do this? Okay. Hey, girl. I'm sorry. No, no.

Video examples

A Collection Of Wild...

this footage is incredibly rare and it's the first time many of the russian researchers have seen shots like these sorry repeat show them again

Video examples

Sweaty Mudskippers Try...

boobs you uh sorry did i just say it out loud well they said we couldn't do it louis but here we here we are finally out of the water

Video examples

Animals Being Bros PIPE BBC...

But he'll never be fit enough for release into the wild. The film crew can't help feeling sorry for him.

Video examples

Best Lion Moments Part 2...

sorry my dear sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry let's have a look at the claws you're

Video examples

How math saved my life PIPE...

said he'd a clicker here sorry about that I didn't get it clicker sorry thank

Example 1 of 10

Quote examples

Rita Moreno

Puerto Rican Actress

Actors very often are people who think it's always about 'me,' and I can see why! No one else is going to support you or say, 'Gosh, I'm sorry about that,' or, 'Here, let me give you a job.' It doesn't happen that way.

Quote examples

Herbert V. Prochnow

American Businessman

You may be sorry that you spoke, sorry you stayed or went, sorry you won or lost, sorry so much was spent. But as you go through life, you'll find - you're never sorry you were kind.

Quote examples

Kirstie Alley

American Actress

I sort of feel sorry for the next man who gets me. I may just kill him with passion. He'd better be strong and have a good heart!

Quote examples

Patricia Heaton

American Actress

I have always believed that when you're feeling sorry for yourself, the best thing to do is help someone else.

Quote examples

Tyne Daly

American Actress

I'm sorry I didn't wear paint this morning. I tend not to wear it unless I'm getting highly paid.

Quote examples

Irwin Shaw

American Novelist

No writer need feel sorry for himself if he writes and enjoys it, even if he doesn't get paid.

Quote examples

Jane Levy

American Actress

I've never seen 'Evil Dead 2.' Sorry about that. I'm sorry to the world.

Quote examples

Kathie Lee Gifford

American Entertainer

Love in the real world means saying you're sorry 10 times a day.

Quote examples

O. J. Simpson

American Athlete

Don't feel sorry for me. I've had a great life, great friends.

Quote examples

Wayne Newton

American Musician

There's no room in my life for feeling sorry for myself.

Quote examples

Rita Moreno

Puerto Rican Actress

Actors very often are people who think it's always about 'me,' and I can see why! No one else is going to support you or say, 'Gosh, I'm sorry about that,' or, 'Here, let me give you a job.' It doesn't happen that way.

Quote examples

Herbert V. Prochnow

American Businessman

You may be sorry that you spoke, sorry you stayed or went, sorry you won or lost, sorry so much was spent. But as you go through life, you'll find - you're never sorry you were kind.

Quote examples

Kirstie Alley

American Actress

I sort of feel sorry for the next man who gets me. I may just kill him with passion. He'd better be strong and have a good heart!

Quote examples

Patricia Heaton

American Actress

I have always believed that when you're feeling sorry for yourself, the best thing to do is help someone else.

Quote examples

Tyne Daly

American Actress

I'm sorry I didn't wear paint this morning. I tend not to wear it unless I'm getting highly paid.

Quote examples

Irwin Shaw

American Novelist

No writer need feel sorry for himself if he writes and enjoys it, even if he doesn't get paid.

Quote examples

Jane Levy

American Actress

I've never seen 'Evil Dead 2.' Sorry about that. I'm sorry to the world.

Quote examples

Kathie Lee Gifford

American Entertainer

Love in the real world means saying you're sorry 10 times a day.

Quote examples

O. J. Simpson

American Athlete

Don't feel sorry for me. I've had a great life, great friends.

Quote examples

Wayne Newton

American Musician

There's no room in my life for feeling sorry for myself.

Example 1 of 10

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