verb
regret
rih-GREHT
verb
1
To feel sorry about something that happened, or wish it had gone differently.
"He deeply regretted saying those words in anger."
"I regret not asking for her number when I had the chance."
noun
1
A feeling of sadness or disappointment about something in the past.
"She looked back on her twenties with a mix of nostalgia and regret."
2
A polite refusal, especially a note declining an invitation.
"Please send your regrets if you cannot attend the wedding."
How to Use Regret
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo feel bad about something you did or didn't do, wishing it had been different.
Common mistake
"I regret to inform you" is a set formal phrase for delivering bad news politely — it doesn't always mean the speaker feels personal remorse.
Common pairings
regret a decision
no regrets
live to regret
send regrets
Word Forms
regretted past tense, regrets plural, regrets singular
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I _____ not asking for her number when I had the chance.
Etymology
From Old French regreter, "to lament, mourn," probably ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "to weep."