# sorry

/ˈsɑɹi/ (US) · /sˈɒɹi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. apologetic

adjective · CEFR A1

feeling regret or guilt because you did something wrong.

For teachers: feeling regret, compunction, or remorse for one's own actions.

- I am very sorry for breaking your favorite coffee mug.
- The manager was genuinely sorry for the administrative error and offered a full refund to the affected customers.

### 2. sympathetic

adjective · CEFR A1

feeling sad or bad for someone else because of their problems or bad news.

For teachers: feeling or expressing sympathy, pity, or regret for the misfortunes of others.

- I was so sorry to hear about your grandfather passing away.
- We were deeply sorry to learn of the project's cancellation after all the hard work you invested.

### 3. poor or pathetic

adjective · CEFR B2

in a very bad or weak condition that makes you feel pity or look down on it.

For teachers: wretched, poor, or pitiful in quality or state; often used to describe an inadequate attempt or condition.

- The old abandoned house was in a sorry state with broken windows.
- The team made a sorry attempt at a comeback, failing to score even a single point in the final half.

### 5. requesting repetition

interjection · CEFR A2 · British English

what you say when you want someone to repeat something you did not hear.

For teachers: used to request that a speaker repeat a statement that was not heard or understood.

- Sorry? Could you say that again? The music is too loud.
- Sorry? I missed the last part of the instructions because of the static on the line.

Usage: Usually spoken with a rising intonation like a question.

Teaching tip: In American English, 'Pardon?' or 'Excuse me?' is more common for this purpose, though 'Sorry?' is understood.

### 6. an apology

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

the act of saying the word 'sorry'.

For teachers: the verbal expression of an apology.

- A simple sorry is all I need to hear from you.
- He thought a quick sorry would fix the problem, but the damage to their relationship was already ran too deep.

## Examples

- I am sorry for being late to the meeting.
- She felt sorry for her neighbor whose cat had gone missing during the storm.
- The CEO issued a public statement saying he was deeply sorry for the data breach, though critics argued his apology lacked a concrete plan for restitution.

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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.