1 ex·cuse
Pronounced:
/ɪkˈskju:z/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
ex·cus·es; ex·cused; ex·cus·ingMeaning:
[+ obj] 1 : to forgive someone for making a mistake, doing something wrong, etc., ▪ Please excuse [=pardon] my clumsiness. ▪ His boss excused the mistake but told him to be more careful next time. ▪ Please excuse me for not calling sooner.
2 a : to say that (someone) is not required to do something ▪ I was excused from jury duty. ▪ The teacher excused the class from homework that day. b : to allow (someone, such as a child) to leave ▪ I've finished my dinner. May I (please) be excused? [=allowed to leave the dinner table]
3 : to be an acceptable reason for (something) : justify ▪ Nothing can excuse that kind of rudeness. ▪ Her father's illness excused her absence.
2 a : to say that (someone) is not required to do something ▪ I was excused from jury duty. ▪ The teacher excused the class from homework that day. b : to allow (someone, such as a child) to leave ▪ I've finished my dinner. May I (please) be excused? [=allowed to leave the dinner table]
3 : to be an acceptable reason for (something) : justify ▪ Nothing can excuse that kind of rudeness. ▪ Her father's illness excused her absence.
excuse me
◊Excuse me is used as a polite way of starting to say something. It can be used when you are interrupting someone, trying to get someone's attention, or disagreeing with someone. ▪ Excuse me, but may I say something? ▪ Excuse me, but do you mind if I shut the window? ▪ Excuse me, do you know where I can find Maple Street? ▪ Excuse me, but I don't think those figures are entirely accurate. It is also used as a polite apology for a minor fault or offense, such as laughing, coughing, or burping, and, in U.S. English, for getting in someone's way or bumping into someone. ▪ Oh, excuse me. [=pardon me, I beg your pardon] I didn't notice you standing there. The phrase is also used, especially in U.S. English, as a polite way of asking someone to repeat something. ▪ Excuse me? [=pardon me?; I beg your pardon?] I didn't hear the last part of what you were saying. In informal use, excuse me is often used in an annoyed way when someone has suggested that you have done something wrong and you do not feel that you have. ▪ “You were supposed to be home an hour ago.” “Well, excuse me! I had to fix a flat tire.”
excuse yourself
: to say politely that you have to leave ▪ Excusing himself, he quickly rose from the table and left the room.
—ex·cus·able /ɪkˈskju:zəbəl/ adjective ▪ Such minor errors are excusable.
/ɪkˈskju:zəbəl/ adjective ▪ Such minor errors are excusable.