sorrier; sorriest
1
a
: feeling sorrow or sympathy
I'm so sorry for your loss.
We were very sorry to hear the news.
She felt sorry for him. [=she felt sympathy and concern for him because of his situation, problems, etc.]
He told me to stop feeling sorry for myself. [=to stop indulging in self-pity]
b
: feeling regret or penitence
He was sorry about what he had said.
"I wanted to apologize," she said, "for my abominable rudeness in laughing at you just now. It was idiotic of me and I don't know why I did it. I'm sorry."—
P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehouse"… I'm so sorry, but the tongs were too hot, and so I've made a mess," groaned poor Jo, regarding the little black pancakes with tears of regret.—Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May AlcottI am sorry we have ever differed, and extremely sorry I have ever given you offence.—Charles Dickens
—used to express polite regretCharles DickensI'm sorry, but I think you're wrong.
I'm sorry to interrupt you.
—used to introduce disappointing or bad news in a polite wayI'm sorry, but we won't be able to come.
—used as an apology for a minor fault or offenseOh, sorry—that was clumsy of me.
I'm late again. Sorry about that. [=I'm sorry; I apologize]
2
3
: inspiring sorrow, pity, scorn, or ridicule : pitiful
Their affairs were in a sorry state.
Lawrence blushed, and then smiled awkwardly. A man in love is a sorry spectacle.—Agatha Christie
Agatha ChristieIn view of the sorry treatment of the Native Americans of the US, it is time that their voice was heard a little more clearly in contemporary American society.—Tim Flannery
Tim Flannery… had been on her way to work when her rusted-out, … sorry excuse for a car … choked on its last drop of gasoline, then died.—Ingrid Law
Ingrid Law
Synonyms
Examples of sorry in a Sentence
I'm sorry if I offended you.
She was sorry to hear about their divorce.
I'm sorry for your loss.
I'm sorry for saying that.
I'm sorry that I wasted your time.
What a sorry state of affairs we're in now.
That's the sorriest excuse I've heard.
Recent Examples on the Web
While oats definitely have more of the stuff than some other grains—sorry, rice—folks may find that its five grams per one half cup serving isn’t enough on its own to meet that goal and ward off hunger pangs.
—Audrey Bruno, SELF, 1 Apr. 2024
The pending shift of most of the city’s Development Services Department workers to new environs not only serves as a reminder of the sorry shape of municipal facilities in the downtown civic center complex, but San Diego’s decades-long quest for a new City Hall.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
Given the sorry state of China’s economy, that is not enough.
—Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Avocado verde salsa is, in the grand scheme of Taco Bell, a mild (sorry) addition to the brand’s offerings.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
Imposed by post-Brexit belt-tightening, this sorry set of limitations has exasperated those obliged to work within them while dispiriting viewers, left watching the life — and the talent — drain from primetime broadcasts.
—Mike McCahill, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024
So, sorry fellow millennials, no dressing it up with your own stickers.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2024
The company’s Treasures From Planet Hollywood event ran from Wednesday through Sunday and the wooden raft that Rose (Kate Winslet) clung to at the end of the movie—sorry, Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio)—was the highest-selling item up for grabs.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2024
Here’s the sorry truth: In the last decade UW-Madison has added 3,550 net new positions, just 109 of which were faculty positions, according to its Data Digest.
—Kathleen Gallagher, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024
Audrey Bruno, SELF, 1 Apr. 2024
The pending shift of most of the city’s Development Services Department workers to new environs not only serves as a reminder of the sorry shape of municipal facilities in the downtown civic center complex, but San Diego’s decades-long quest for a new City Hall.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
Given the sorry state of China’s economy, that is not enough.
—Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Avocado verde salsa is, in the grand scheme of Taco Bell, a mild (sorry) addition to the brand’s offerings.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
Imposed by post-Brexit belt-tightening, this sorry set of limitations has exasperated those obliged to work within them while dispiriting viewers, left watching the life — and the talent — drain from primetime broadcasts.
—Mike McCahill, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024
So, sorry fellow millennials, no dressing it up with your own stickers.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2024
The company’s Treasures From Planet Hollywood event ran from Wednesday through Sunday and the wooden raft that Rose (Kate Winslet) clung to at the end of the movie—sorry, Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio)—was the highest-selling item up for grabs.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2024
Here’s the sorry truth: In the last decade UW-Madison has added 3,550 net new positions, just 109 of which were faculty positions, according to its Data Digest.
—Kathleen Gallagher, Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sorry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English sory, from Old English sārig, from sār sore
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of sorry was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing sorry
Dictionary Entries Near sorry
Cite this Entry
“Sorry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sorry. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on sorry
Nglish: Translation of sorry for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of sorry for Arabic Speakers
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