verb
excuse
ihk-SKYOOZ
verb
1
To forgive someone, or overlook a minor fault.
"Please excuse the mess — we weren't expecting visitors."
2
To release someone from a duty or allow them to leave.
"The teacher excused him from class early for a dentist appointment."
noun
1
A reason given to justify a mistake or avoid blame.
"His excuse for being late was that the bus never came."
"There's no excuse for talking to a colleague that way."
How to Use Excuse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo forgive or release someone from something — or, as a noun, the reason offered for a mistake.
Common pairings
make an excuse
excuse me
no excuse for
Word Forms
excused past tense, excuses plural, excuses singular
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Please _____ the mess — we weren't expecting visitors.
Etymology
From Old French excuser, from Latin excusare, "to free from blame" — ex- plus causa ("charge, cause").