regret
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re·gret
(rĭ-grĕt′)v. re·gret·ted, re·gret·ting, re·grets
v.tr.
1. To feel sorry, disappointed, distressed, or remorseful about: I regret not speaking to her before she left.
2. To remember with a feeling of loss or sorrow; mourn: "He almost regretted the penury which he had suffered during the last two years since the desperate struggle merely to keep body and soul together had deadened the pain of living" (W. Somerset Maugham).
v.intr.
To feel regret.
n.
1. A feeling of sorrow, disappointment, distress, or remorse about something that one wishes could be different.
2. A sense of loss and longing for someone or something gone or passed out of existence: "We have both had flashes of regret for those vanished, golden people" (Anne Rivers Siddons).
3. regrets A courteous expression of regret, especially at having to decline an invitation.
[Middle English regretten, to lament, from Old French regreter : re-, re- + -greter, to weep (perhaps of Germanic origin).]
re·gret′ter n.
Synonyms: regret, sorrow, grief, anguish, woe, heartbreak
These nouns denote mental distress. Regret has the broadest range, from mere disappointment to a painful sense of dissatisfaction or self-reproach, as over something lost or done: She looked back with regret on the pain she had caused her family. He had no regrets about leaving his job.
Sorrow connotes sadness caused by misfortune, affliction, or loss; it can also imply contrition: "sorrow for his ... children, who needed his protection, and whom he could not protect" (James Baldwin).
Grief is deep, acute personal sorrow, as that arising from irreplaceable loss: "Grief fills the room up of my absent child, / Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me" (Shakespeare).
Anguish implies agonizing, excruciating mental pain: "I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement" (Abraham Lincoln).
Woe is intense, often prolonged wretchedness or misery: "the deep, unutterable woe / Which none save exiles feel" (W.E. Aytoun).
Heartbreak is overwhelming grief: "Better a little chiding than a great deal of heartbreak" (Shakespeare).
These nouns denote mental distress. Regret has the broadest range, from mere disappointment to a painful sense of dissatisfaction or self-reproach, as over something lost or done: She looked back with regret on the pain she had caused her family. He had no regrets about leaving his job.
Sorrow connotes sadness caused by misfortune, affliction, or loss; it can also imply contrition: "sorrow for his ... children, who needed his protection, and whom he could not protect" (James Baldwin).
Grief is deep, acute personal sorrow, as that arising from irreplaceable loss: "Grief fills the room up of my absent child, / Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me" (Shakespeare).
Anguish implies agonizing, excruciating mental pain: "I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement" (Abraham Lincoln).
Woe is intense, often prolonged wretchedness or misery: "the deep, unutterable woe / Which none save exiles feel" (W.E. Aytoun).
Heartbreak is overwhelming grief: "Better a little chiding than a great deal of heartbreak" (Shakespeare).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
regret
(rɪˈɡrɛt)vb (tr) , -grets, -gretting or -gretted
1. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to feel sorry, repentant, or upset about
2. to bemoan or grieve the death or loss of
n
3. a sense of repentance, guilt, or sorrow, as over some wrong done or an unfulfilled ambition
4. a sense of loss or grief
5. (plural) a polite expression of sadness, esp in a formal refusal of an invitation
[C14: from Old French regrete, of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse grāta to weep]
reˈgretful adj
reˈgretfully adv
reˈgretfulness n
reˈgrettable adj
reˈgrettably adv
reˈgretter n
Usage: Regretful and regretfully are sometimes wrongly used where regrettable and regrettably are meant: he gave a regretful smile; he smiled regretfully; this is a regrettable (not regretful) mistake; regrettably (not regretfully), I shall be unable to attend
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
re•gret
(rɪˈgrɛt)v. -gret•ted, -gret•ting,
n. v.t.
1. to feel sorrow or remorse for (an act, fault, disappointment, etc.).
2. to think of with a sense of loss.
n. 3. a sense of loss, disappointment, dissatisfaction, etc.
4. a feeling of sorrow or remorse for a fault, act, loss, etc.
5. regrets, a polite, usu. formal refusal of an invitation.
[1300–50; Middle English regretten (v.) < Middle French regreter, Old French]
re•gret′ter, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Regret
See Also: CONSCIENCE
- Remorse is as the heart in which it grows —Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Coleridge’s poem, Remorse, continues as follows: “If that be gentle, it drops balmy dews of true repentance; but if proud and gloomy, it is the poison tree, that pierces to the inmost.”
- Repentance, like the sea, is always open to the ventures —Shimoni Yalkut
- Repentance, without amendment, is like continually pumping without mending the leak —Lewis W. Dilwyn
- Repentance follows crime … as changes follow time —Percy Bysshe Shelley
- Regret is like a mountaintop from which we survey our dead life, a mountaintop on which we pause and ponder, and very often looking into the twilight we ask ourselves whether it would be well to send a letter or some token —George Moore
- The pang of regret, sharp as a sword thrust —L. P. Hartley
- Regret is like tears seeping through closed eyelids —Galway Kinnell
- (When I fall) let me fall without regret like a leaf —Wendell Berry
- Remorseless as an alarm clock —Anon
Similes Dictionary, 1st Edition. © 1988 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
regret
– be sorry1. sadness and disappointment
Regret and be sorry are both used to say that someone feels sadness or disappointment about something that has happened, or about something they have done. Regret is more formal than be sorry.
You can say that you regret something or are sorry about it.
I immediately regretted my decision.
Astrid was sorry about leaving abruptly.
You can also say that you regret or are sorry that something has happened.
Pisarev regretted that no real changes had occurred.
He was sorry he had agreed to stay.
You can also say that you regret doing something.
None of the women I spoke to regretted making this change.
Be Careful!
Don't say that you 'are sorry doing' something.
2. apologizing
When you are apologizing to someone for something that has happened, you can say that you are sorry about it.
I'm sorry about the mess – I'll clean up.
You can also report someone's apology by saying that they are sorry about something.
She was very sorry about all the trouble she'd caused.
Be Careful!
Don't say that you are 'sorry for' something.
In conversation, don't apologize by saying that you 'regret' something. Regret is only used in formal letters and announcements.
London Transport regrets any inconvenience caused by these delays.
3. giving bad news
When you are giving someone some bad news, you can begin by saying 'I'm sorry to tell you...'. In a formal letter, you say 'I regret to inform you...'.
I'm very sorry to tell you this, but she's dead.
I regret to inform you that your application has not been successful.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
regret
Past participle: regretted
Gerund: regretting
| Imperative |
|---|
| regret |
| regret |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  regret - sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment; "he drank to drown his sorrows"; "he wrote a note expressing his regret"; "to his rue, the error cost him the game"sadness, unhappiness - emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being |
| Verb | 1. | regret - feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about feel, experience - undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind; "She felt resentful"; "He felt regret" |
| 2. | regret - feel sad about the loss or absence of miss - feel or suffer from the lack of; "He misses his mother" | |
| 3. | regret - decline formally or politely; "I regret I can't come to the party" regret - express with regret; "I regret to say that you did not gain admission to Harvard" | |
| 4. | regret - express with regret; "I regret to say that you did not gain admission to Harvard" inform - impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to; "I informed him of his rights" regret - decline formally or politely; "I regret I can't come to the party" fear - be sorry; used to introduce an unpleasant statement; "I fear I won't make it to your wedding party" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
regret
verb
1. be or feel sorry about, feel remorse about, be upset about, rue, deplore, bemoan, repent (of), weep over, bewail, cry over spilt milk She regrets having given up her home.
be or feel sorry about be happy about, be satisfied with, rejoice over, have not looked back, feel satisfaction with
be or feel sorry about be happy about, be satisfied with, rejoice over, have not looked back, feel satisfaction with
noun
1. remorse, compunction, self-reproach, pang of conscience, bitterness, repentance, contrition, penitence, ruefulness He has no regrets about retiring.
2. sorrow, disappointment, grief, sadness, unhappiness, lamentation, dejection He expressed great regret.
sorrow pleasure, satisfaction, contentment, callousness, lack of compassion, impenitence
sorrow pleasure, satisfaction, contentment, callousness, lack of compassion, impenitence
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
regret
verbnoun1. Unhappiness caused by the failure of one's hopes, desires, or expectations:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
أَسَف، نَدَمنَدَميَنْدَمُ عَلَىيَنْدَم، يأسَف
lítostlitovat
fortrydefortrydelsesorgangrebeklage
bedaŭri
katuakatumus
להצטער
žaljenjezažaliti
sajnálsajnálatmegbán
eftirsjá; harmur; söknuîursjá eftir
後悔後悔する悔いる
후회후회하다
gailėtissu liūdesiu
nožēlanožēlot
obžalovanjeobžalovati
ångerångra
เสียใจความเสียใจ
sự ân hậntiếc
regret
[rɪˈgret]A. N
1. (= sorrow) → pena f, pesar m
she accepted his resignation with regret → aceptó su dimisión con pena or pesar
the President expressed his regret for the deaths of civilians → el presidente expresó su pesar or dolor por las muertes de los civiles
my one or only regret is that I didn't see her before she died → lo único que siento or lamento es no haberla visto antes de que muriera
I felt no regret at giving up my work → no sentí dejar el trabajo
much to my regret; to my great regret → con gran pesar mío
she accepted his resignation with regret → aceptó su dimisión con pena or pesar
the President expressed his regret for the deaths of civilians → el presidente expresó su pesar or dolor por las muertes de los civiles
my one or only regret is that I didn't see her before she died → lo único que siento or lamento es no haberla visto antes de que muriera
I felt no regret at giving up my work → no sentí dejar el trabajo
much to my regret; to my great regret → con gran pesar mío
2. (= remorse) → remordimiento(s) m(pl)
I felt a pang of regret → me entraron remordimientos
I have no regrets → no me arrepiento de nada
I felt a pang of regret → me entraron remordimientos
I have no regrets → no me arrepiento de nada
B. VT
1. (= apologize for, be sorry for) [+ death, inconvenience, error] → lamentar
we regret any inconvenience caused by the delay → lamentamos cualquier inconveniente que les pueda haber causado el retraso
it is to be regretted that he did not act sooner → lo lamentable es que no actuó antes
the President regrets (that) he cannot see you today → el presidente lamenta or siente no poder verle hoy
we regret to inform you that → lamentamos tener que informarle que ...
her lack of co-operation is nothing new, I regret to say → lamento decir que su falta de cooperación no es algo nuevo
we regret having to do this, but it is necessary → lamentamos or sentimos tener que hacer esto, pero es necesario
he regretted what had happened → lamentó lo ocurrido
we regret any inconvenience caused by the delay → lamentamos cualquier inconveniente que les pueda haber causado el retraso
it is to be regretted that he did not act sooner → lo lamentable es que no actuó antes
the President regrets (that) he cannot see you today → el presidente lamenta or siente no poder verle hoy
we regret to inform you that → lamentamos tener que informarle que ...
her lack of co-operation is nothing new, I regret to say → lamento decir que su falta de cooperación no es algo nuevo
we regret having to do this, but it is necessary → lamentamos or sentimos tener que hacer esto, pero es necesario
he regretted what had happened → lamentó lo ocurrido
2. (= rue) [+ decision] → arrepentirse de, lamentar
you won't regret it! → ¡no te arrepentirás!, ¡no lo lamentarás!
he regrets saying it → se arrepiente de or lamenta haberlo dicho
he was regretting that he had asked the question → se arrepentía de or lamentaba haber hecho la pregunta
I don't regret what I did → no me arrepiento de or lamento lo que hice
to live to regret sth → arrepentirse de or lamentar algo más tarde
you won't regret it! → ¡no te arrepentirás!, ¡no lo lamentarás!
he regrets saying it → se arrepiente de or lamenta haberlo dicho
he was regretting that he had asked the question → se arrepentía de or lamentaba haber hecho la pregunta
I don't regret what I did → no me arrepiento de or lamento lo que hice
to live to regret sth → arrepentirse de or lamentar algo más tarde
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
regret
[rɪˈgrɛt] n → regret m
to have no regrets → n'avoir aucun regret, ne rien regretter
I have no regrets → Je ne regrette rien., Je n'ai aucun regret.
to have no regrets about sth → ne pas regretter qch
He said he had no regrets about retiring → Il a déclaré qu'il ne regrettait pas d'avoir pris sa retraite.
with regret → avec regret
to have no regrets → n'avoir aucun regret, ne rien regretter
I have no regrets → Je ne regrette rien., Je n'ai aucun regret.
to have no regrets about sth → ne pas regretter qch
He said he had no regrets about retiring → Il a déclaré qu'il ne regrettait pas d'avoir pris sa retraite.
with regret → avec regret
vt [+ action, event, decision] → regretter
Give me the money or you'll regret it! → Donne-moi l'argent, sinon tu vas le regretter!
to regret doing sth → regretter d'avoir fait qch
to regret (that) ... → regretter de ... + infin, regretter que ... + subj
Ellis regretted that he had asked the question → Ellis regretta d'avoir posé la question.
I regret that he was not given the correct information → Je regrette qu'on ne lui ait pas donné les bonnes informations.
we regret to inform you that ... → nous sommes au regret de vous informer que ...
Give me the money or you'll regret it! → Donne-moi l'argent, sinon tu vas le regretter!
to regret doing sth → regretter d'avoir fait qch
to regret (that) ... → regretter de ... + infin, regretter que ... + subj
Ellis regretted that he had asked the question → Ellis regretta d'avoir posé la question.
I regret that he was not given the correct information → Je regrette qu'on ne lui ait pas donné les bonnes informations.
we regret to inform you that ... → nous sommes au regret de vous informer que ...
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
regret
vt → bedauern; one’s youth, lost opportunity → nachtrauern (+dat); I regret that we will not be coming → ich bedauere, dass wir nicht kommen können; to regret the fact that … → (die Tatsache) bedauern, dass …; I regret to say that … → ich muss Ihnen leider mitteilen, dass …; he is very ill, I regret to say → er ist leider or bedauerlicherweise sehr krank; we regret to learn that … → wir hören mit Bedauern, dass …; we regret any inconvenience caused → für eventuelle Unannehmlichkeiten bitten wir um Verständnis; it is to be regretted that … → es ist bedauerlich, dass …; you won’t regret it! → Sie werden es nicht bereuen; this matter is much regretted → dieser Vorfall hat großes Bedauern ausgelöst
n → Bedauern nt no pl; to feel regret for one’s past youth → seiner vergangenen Jugend (dat) → nachtrauern; much to my regret → sehr zu meinem Bedauern; I have no regrets → ich bereue nichts; please give her my regrets that I cannot come → bitte, sagen Sie ihr, dass ich leider nicht kommen kann; he sends his regrets → er lässt sich entschuldigen, er muss leider absagen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
regret
[rɪˈgrɛt]1. n
a. → rimpianto, rammarico
much to my regret, to my great regret → con mio grande dispiacere
I have no regrets → non ho rimpianti
much to my regret, to my great regret → con mio grande dispiacere
I have no regrets → non ho rimpianti
b. regrets npl (excuses) → scuse fpl
2. vt (news, death) → essere dispiaciuto/a per, essere desolato/a per
he is very ill, I regret to say → purtroppo è molto malato
I regret that I will be unable to attend your party (frm) → mi rincresce (di) non poter venire alla vostra festa
we regret to inform you that ... (frm) → siamo spiacenti di informarla che...
I regret that I/he cannot help → mi rincresce (di) non poter aiutare/che lui non possa aiutare
he is very ill, I regret to say → purtroppo è molto malato
I regret that I will be unable to attend your party (frm) → mi rincresce (di) non poter venire alla vostra festa
we regret to inform you that ... (frm) → siamo spiacenti di informarla che...
I regret that I/he cannot help → mi rincresce (di) non poter aiutare/che lui non possa aiutare
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
regret
(rəˈgret) – past tense, past participle reˈgretted – verb to be sorry about. I regret my foolish behaviour; I regret that I missed the concert; I regret missing the concert; I regret to inform you that your application for the job was unsuccessful.
noun a feeling of sorrow, or of having done something wrong. I have no regrets / I feel no regret about what I did; It was with deep regret that I heard the news of his death.
reˈgretful adjective feeling regret.
reˈgretfully adverb with regret. Regretfully, we have had to turn down your offer.
reˈgrettable adjectivea regrettable mistake.
reˈgrettably adverbregrettable is spelt with two ts.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
regret
→ نَدَم, يَنْدَمُ عَلَى lítost, litovat fortryde, sorg Bedauern μεταμέλεια, μετανιώνω lamentar, pesar katua, katumus regret, regretter žaljenje, zažaliti rammarico, rimpiangere 後悔, 後悔する 후회, 후회하다 betreuren, spijt anger, beklage pożałować, żal arrepender-se, arrependimento, pesar сожаление, сожалеть ånger, ångra เสียใจ, ความเสียใจ pişman olmak, pişmanlık sự ân hận, tiếc 后悔, 遗憾Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
regret
n. sentimiento de pesar; remordimiento; sentir, lamentar, deplorar;
I ___ to tell you → siento decirle, decirte.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012