# regret

/ɹəˈɡɹɛt/ (US) · /ɹɪɡɹˈɛt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/regret
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to feel sorry about an action

verb · CEFR B1

to feel sad or sorry about something you did, or a situation that happened.

For teachers: to feel sorrow or remorse regarding a past action, event, or omission. Transitive, often taking a gerund or a 'that' clause.

- He deeply regretted shouting at his friend during the argument yesterday.
- Many retirees admit they regret not travelling more extensively while they still possessed the physical stamina to do so.

### 2. to formally give bad news

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

a polite way to say you are sorry to tell someone something disappointing.

For teachers: used in formal correspondence to introduce disappointing information or a refusal. Typically followed by a to-infinitive.

- We regret to inform you that your application was not successful.
- The airline regrets to announce that the flight to Paris has been cancelled due to technical difficulties with the aircraft.

### 3. the feeling of sadness

noun · CEFR B1

the sad feeling you have when you wish you had done something differently.

For teachers: the emotional state of remorse or dissatisfaction directed toward a past event. Both countable and uncountable.

- She left the party with a sense of regret after her awkward conversation.
- The protagonist's life was defined by a profound regret over a single decision made in his youth.

### 4. declining an invitation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a formal message saying that you cannot go to an event.

For teachers: a formal notification that one is unable to accept an invitation. Often used in the plural form 'regrets'.

- Please send your regrets by Friday if you cannot attend the wedding.
- The CEO sent her regrets, explaining that a prior board commitment prevented her from attending the gala.

## Examples

- He feels a lot of regret about leaving his old job.
- She looked back on her university years with a sense of regret for not studying abroad when she had the chance.
- The aging statesman expressed profound regret that his diplomatic efforts had failed to prevent the outbreak of hostilities, though he maintained that his intentions were always peaceful.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.