adj

sorry

SO-ree

adj

Feeling regret or wanting to apologize for something one did.

"I'm sorry I forgot your birthday."

Feeling sad or sympathetic about a loss or misfortune.

"I was sorry to hear about your grandmother's passing."

Pitifully poor or inadequate.

"The team put in a sorry performance in the final."

interjection

Used to apologize or express regret.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to step on your foot."

Especially British: used to politely ask someone to repeat what they said.

"Sorry? Could you say that again?"

How to Use Sorry

Learner’s notes

Common mistake

Not historically related to "sorrow," even though the meanings overlap.

UK vs US

British speakers use "sorry?" very often to mean "pardon?" or "what did you say?" — Americans more often say "sorry?" too but "what?" or "excuse me?" are just as common.

Common pairings

I'm sorry feel sorry for a sorry state sorry excuse

Word Forms

sorrier comparative, sorried past tense, sorries plural, sorrys plural, sorries singular, sorriest superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

I'm _____ I forgot your birthday.

Etymology

From Old English sarig ("feeling grief, sad"), related to "sore" rather than to "sorrow," despite the similar meanings.

Rhymes for sorry

worry lorry

See all rhymes for sorry →