excuse
ihk-SKYOOZ
Excuse (verb) means to forgive someone, or overlook a minor fault. Example: “Please excuse the mess — we weren't expecting visitors.”
verb
1
To forgive someone, or overlook a minor fault.
"Please excuse the mess — we weren't expecting visitors."
"You must excuse my brother, because he gets cranky when he is hungry."
"Could you excuse the noise from the builders next door this week?"
2
To release someone from a duty or allow them to leave.
"The teacher excused him from class early for a dentist appointment."
"The manager excused her from the meeting so she could catch her train."
"May I be excused from the table, please? I have finished my dinner."
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."
"Forgetting your homework again is a weak excuse, and the teacher knows it."
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- excuses
- Third person singular
- excuses
- Past tense
- excused
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for excuse
See all rhymes for excuse →Frequently asked questions
What does “excuse” mean?
The word “excuse” means to forgive someone, or overlook a minor fault. In plain terms, to forgive or release someone from something — or, as a noun, the reason offered for a mistake.
How do you pronounce “excuse”?
“Excuse” is pronounced ihk-SKYOOZ (/ɪksˈkjuz/ in IPA).
How do you use “excuse” in a sentence?
Here is “excuse” used in a sentence: “Please excuse the mess — we weren't expecting visitors.”
What is the opposite of “excuse”?
The opposite of “excuse” — its antonyms — are blame and punish.
What part of speech is “excuse”?
Depending on how it is used, “excuse” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “excuse” come from?
The word “excuse” comes from Latin. From Old French excuser, from Latin excusare, "to free from blame" — ex- plus causa ("charge, cause").
Is “excuse” a common word?
“Excuse” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “excuse” have?
“Excuse” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to forgive someone, or overlook a minor fault.
What is the difference between excuse and forgive?
To excuse is to overlook a minor fault, treating it as too small to matter — 'please excuse the mess.' To forgive is to pardon a more serious wrong and let go of the hurt it caused. Excusing is lighter and everyday; forgiving usually involves a deeper offence and a greater emotional release.
What is the difference between excuse as a verb and excuse as a noun?
The verb excuse (pronounced ex-CUSE) means to forgive or overlook a fault. The noun excuse (pronounced ex-CUSS) is the reason someone gives to justify or explain a fault, as in 'a poor excuse for being late.' They are spelled the same but pronounced differently and play different roles.
What does 'excuse me' mean?
'Excuse me' is a polite phrase with several uses: to get someone's attention, to apologize for a small breach such as interrupting or sneezing, or to ask someone to repeat something. In each case it asks the other person to overlook a minor fault or grant a moment of their attention.
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