sor·ry
Pronounced:
/ˈsɑri/
Function:
adjectiveInflected forms:
sor·ri·er; sor·ri·estMeaning:
[more sor*ry; most sor*ry] 1 : feeling sorrow or regret ▪ I'm sorry if I offended you. ▪ She was sorry to hear about their divorce. ▪ I'm sorry for your loss. ▪ I'm sorry for saying that. ▪ I'm sorry that I wasted your time. ▪ He felt sorry for her. [=he felt sympathy for her because she was in a bad situation] ▪ Stop feeling sorry for yourself. [=feeling pity for yourself] ▪ It's probably not necessary to check the figures again, but (it's) better (to be) safe than sorry. [=it is better to be careful now so that problems do not occur later on]
2 a —used to express polite regret ▪ Sorry, but I disagree. ▪ Sorry [=excuse me], I didn't mean to interrupt you. b —used to introduce disappointing or bad news in a polite way ▪ I'm sorry, but I couldn't find any information for you. ▪ Sorry, but it's too late to change our plans. c —used as an apology for a minor fault or offense (such as bumping into someone) ▪ Sorry. I didn't see you standing there. ▪ I forgot to pick up the dry cleaning. Sorry about that. [=I'm sorry; I apologize] d —used as a polite way of asking someone to repeat something spoken ▪ Sorry? [=Pardon?] I couldn't hear what you said. e —used to introduce a correction to what you have said or written ▪ (humorous) Any football nut—sorry, fan—will know what I mean.
3 always used before a noun a : very bad or poor ▪ What a sorry state of affairs we're in now. ▪ That's the sorriest excuse I've heard. b : causing feelings of disappointment or pity ▪ The sorry [=sad] truth is that he was right all along. ▪ I dragged my sorry [=pitiful] self out of bed.
2 a —used to express polite regret ▪ Sorry, but I disagree. ▪ Sorry [=excuse me], I didn't mean to interrupt you. b —used to introduce disappointing or bad news in a polite way ▪ I'm sorry, but I couldn't find any information for you. ▪ Sorry, but it's too late to change our plans. c —used as an apology for a minor fault or offense (such as bumping into someone) ▪ Sorry. I didn't see you standing there. ▪ I forgot to pick up the dry cleaning. Sorry about that. [=I'm sorry; I apologize] d —used as a polite way of asking someone to repeat something spoken ▪ Sorry? [=Pardon?] I couldn't hear what you said. e —used to introduce a correction to what you have said or written ▪ (humorous) Any football nut—sorry, fan—will know what I mean.
3 always used before a noun a : very bad or poor ▪ What a sorry state of affairs we're in now. ▪ That's the sorriest excuse I've heard. b : causing feelings of disappointment or pity ▪ The sorry [=sad] truth is that he was right all along. ▪ I dragged my sorry [=pitiful] self out of bed.