Word
regretting
Phoneticsre·gret·ting
US/ɹɪˈɡɹɛtɪŋ/
UK/ɹɪɡɹˈɛtɪŋ/
Definitions
01feeling sorry about the past
v. feeling sad or sorry about a choice you made or something that happened.
v. experiencing a sense of loss, disappointment, or remorse over a past event or action. This form often functions as a gerund or part of a continuous verb tense.
“He is already regretting his decision to sell his old car.”
“After years of working long hours, she found herself regretting the time she had missed with her children during their formative years.”
Usage
Often followed by a gerund (verb ending in -ing) to show what the person is sorry about.
Pitfall
I am regretting to tell you the news.
I regret to tell you the news.
Use the simple form 'regret' for formal announcements. 'Regretting' describes a continuous feeling of being sorry about a past choice.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02the act of feeling regret
n. the act or process of feeling sorry about something.
n. the manifestation or instance of feeling remorse. Used as a gerund to describe the activity itself.
“Regretting the past will not help you change the future.”
“The constant regretting of his missed opportunities eventually became a barrier to his professional growth.”
Formal
Usage
Functions as a noun phrase, often as the subject or object of a sentence.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/regretting