Word
apologize
Phoneticsapol·o·gize
/əˈpɑɫəˌdʒaɪz/
UK spelling · apologise
Definitions
01to say sorry for a fault
B1 · Intermediate General-service
v. to say you are sorry for something you did wrong or for hurting someone's feelings.
v. to acknowledge a fault or offence and express regret to the aggrieved party.
日本語:謝る※
“He decided to apologize to his neighbor for the loud music last night.”
“The CEO was forced to apologize publicly after the data breach compromised the personal information of thousands of loyal customers.”
Usage
Intransitive; typically takes the preposition 'to' for the person and 'for' for the reason.
Pitfall
I apologize my mistake.
I apologize for my mistake.
You must use 'for' before the reason and 'to' before the person you are speaking to.
Synonyms
02to express regret for an event
B1 · Intermediate General-service
v. to say you are sorry that something bad happened, even if it was not your fault.
v. to express regret regarding a specific occurrence or circumstance without necessarily admitting personal guilt.
日本語:謝る※
“The airline apologized for the delay caused by the heavy snowstorm.”
“The hotel management apologized for the inconvenience caused by the ongoing renovations, offering all guests a complimentary breakfast.”
Usage
Often used by organizations or representatives to address customer service issues.
Synonyms
03to defend an idea
C2 · Proficiency Formal · Academic · Archaic
v. to write or speak in defense of a belief or a way of living.
v. to act as an apologist by providing a formal defense or justification for a doctrine or belief system.
“The writer spent his life apologizing for the traditional values of his village.”
“In his latest essay, the philosopher seeks to apologize for the Enlightenment, arguing that its critics have misunderstood its core tenets.”
Teaching tip
This sense is rare in modern conversation; learners will mostly encounter it in academic or historical texts regarding 'apologetics'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “apologize” in context.
Verb
01. apologize for
“You should apologize for being so rude to your sister.”
verb + prep
02. apologize to
“I think you should go and apologize to your teacher immediately.”
verb + prep
03. demand to apologize
“The victim's family demanded that the driver apologize in person.”
verb + verb
04. refuse to apologize
“The player refused to apologize for his unsportsmanlike conduct.”
verb + verb
Adjective
05. profusely apologize
“He apologized profusely for the misunderstanding and offered a full refund.”
adv + verb
06. publicly apologize
“The company was forced to publicly apologize for the data breach.”
adv + verb
07. sincerely apologize
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delay.”
adv + verb
Noun
08. reason to apologize
“I have no reason to apologize because I did nothing wrong.”
noun + prep + verb
09. apologize for the delay
“We apologize for the delay in responding to your email.”
10. apologize on behalf of
“I am writing to apologize on behalf of the entire management team.”
11. owe someone an apology
“I think you owe him an apology for what you said yesterday.”
Etymology
From apology + -ize, from ἀπολογία (apología, “a speech in defense”), from ἀπολογέομαι (apologéomai, “to speak in one’s defense”), from ἀπόλογος (apólogos, “an account, story”), compound of ἀπο- (apo-, “from, off”) and λόγος (lógos, “speech”); compare also ἀπολογίζομαι (apologízomai, “to render an account”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/apologize
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0