regret

1 of 2

verb

re·​gret ri-ˈgret 

regretted; regretting

transitive verb

1

a

: to mourn the loss or death of

b

: to miss very much

2

: to be very sorry for

regrets his mistakes

intransitive verb

: to experience regret

regretter noun

regret

2 of 2

noun

1

: sorrow aroused by circumstances beyond one's control or power to repair

2

a

: an expression of distressing emotion (such as sorrow)

b

regrets plural : a note politely declining an invitation

Synonyms

Verb

• bemoan
• deplore
• lament
• repent
• rue

Noun

• contriteness
• contrition
• guilt
• penitence
• remorse
• remorsefulness
• repentance
• rue
• self-reproach
• shame

Choose the Right Synonym for regret

sorrow, grief, anguish, woe, regret mean distress of mind.

sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

Examples of regret in a Sentence

Verb

Don't say anything you might regret later.

I deeply regret what I said.

She does not regret leaving him.

He regrets not traveling more when he was younger.

He says he doesn't regret anything that he's done in his life.

Noun

She has no regrets about leaving him.

My greatest regret is not going to college.

To my regret, I never visited Europe.

It is with deep regret that he is announcing his resignation.

My coworker gives her regrets for not being able to attend the meeting.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Worryingly, the survey also concluded that the average amount of debt that Americans get to visit Disney parks comes to $1,690 and 41% of them regretted taking it out. —Caroline Reid, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Share [Findings] Scientists trained subjects to exercise control over a single neuron, linked the hippocampus to regret, and concluded that humans smell in stereo. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

Noun

Be ready to discuss the aforementioned differences—without judgment or regret. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Another study published Monday in the journal JAMA Pediatrics reported high levels of satisfaction and low levels of regret among more than 220 young people who had accessed puberty blockers and hormone therapy as kids and teens. —Brenda Goodman, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English regretten, from Anglo-French regreter, from re- + -greter (perhaps of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse grāta to weep) — more at greet

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing regret

• agonies of guilt/remorse/regret
• live to regret (something)
• much to someone's regret
• much to the regret of (someone)
• regret to say

Kids Definition

regret

1 of 2 verb

re·​gret ri-ˈgret 

regretted; regretting

1

a

: to mourn the loss or death of

b

: to miss very much

2

: to be keenly sorry for

3

: to experience regret

regret

2 of 2 noun

1

: sorrow aroused by events beyond one's control

2

a

: an expression of sorrow or disappointment

b

plural : a note politely turning down an invitation

regretful

-ˈgret-fəl 

adjective