apologizea‧pol‧o‧gize (also apologise British English) /əˈpɒlədʒaɪz $ əˈpɑː-/ ●●● S2 verb [intransitive] 
I’m so sorry, I do apologize.apologize to I think you should apologize to your brother.apologize for (doing) something He later apologized for his behaviour. I apologize for losing my temper.RegisterIn everyday English, people often use the phrases say (you are) sorry or tell someone you are sorry, rather than apologize (to somebody): I've already apologized to him. ➔ I’ve already told him I'm sorry.GRAMMAR: Patterns with apologize• You apologize for something: · We would like to apologize for the delay.• You apologize for doing something: · He apologized for being late.• You apologize to someone: · We apologize to passengers for the delay. ✗Don’t say: We apologize passengers for the delay.
VERB TABLE
apologize
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | apologize |
| he, she, it | apologizes | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | apologized |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have apologized |
| he, she, it | has apologized | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had apologized |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will apologize |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have apologized |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am apologizing |
| he, she, it | is apologizing | |
| you, we, they | are apologizing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was apologizing |
| you, we, they | were apologizing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been apologizing |
| he, she, it | has been apologizing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been apologizing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be apologizing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been apologizing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I don't know why I apologized, because I didn't do anything wrong.
- I must apologize for my son's behaviour -- he isn't usually this moody.
- She rushed into the hotel, apologizing profusely for being so late.
- The editors admitted the mistake and apologized.
- The US has apologized to Britain for the accident that cost nine British lives.
- But all three young men apologize to Dawie.
- David Kaczynski said nobody talked about or apologized for incidents like this.
- Do not apologize as your weaknesses, failings and gaps in your c.v. are thrown at you.
- Fredrickson talked himself out and finally flushed and apologized like always and sat back down.
- Has apologizing become a growth industry?
- I apologize, it never takes this long.
- She apologized for slowing him down and twice advised him to leave her.
- We apologize to everyone else who has the slightest complaint or modification regarding the first annual Tucson Musicians Register.
Longman Language Activatorto tell someone that you are sorry you did something
to tell someone you are sorry that you have upset them or done something that causes problems for them: · Sometimes it's not easy to say you are sorry.say you are sorry (that): · She finally arrived, and said she was sorry we had been kept waiting.
especially spoken to tell someone that you are sorry you have upset them or done something bad: · She says she won't see him again unless he says sorry.say sorry to: · Go and say sorry to your mother, Andrew.say sorry for (doing) something: · I don't think I should say sorry for doing what at the time I believed to be right.
also apologise British to tell someone that you are sorry, especially in a formal situation or when you do not know the person well: · I don't know why I apologized, because I didn't do anything wrong.apologize for: · I must apologize for my son's behaviour -- he isn't usually this moody.apologize for doing something: · The bank wrote to apologise for overcharging me.apologize to: · The US has apologized to Britain for the accident that cost nine British lives.apologize profusely (=apologize very much): · She rushed into the hotel, apologizing profusely for being so late.
to keep saying you are sorry because you feel guilty or embarrassed about something you have done: · The manager was apologetic, but said that Sue would have to contact head office if she wanted a refund.be apologetic about: · He was most apologetic about not being able to come to the party.
something that you say or write to tell someone that you are sorry: · The story was full of lies, and the paper had to print an apology.· In a written apology, the BBC admitted they had misled the public.accept somebody's apology/apologies formal: · Please accept our apologies for taking so long to deliver the materials you requested.owe somebody an apology: · I never thought she'd get the job. I guess I owe her an apology.demand an apology: · Blake was wrongfully arrested and is now demanding an apology from the police.letter of apology: · As he reflected on his appalling behaviour, he mentally composed a letter of apology to his host.
what you say to tell someone that you are sorry spoken say this to tell someone you are sorry that you upset them or caused problems for them; you can also say this as a polite way of excusing yourself for a small mistake: · I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude.· Sorry, did I step on your foot?I'm very/really/terribly sorry: · I'm really sorry, Joanna. I've broken one of your glasses.sorry/I'm sorry (that): · I'm sorry that I shouted at you.· Sorry we're late, Shelley.sorry/I'm sorry about: · Sorry about all the noise.sorry/I'm sorry to do something: · I'm sorry to bother you, but I need to discuss my essay.sorry/I'm sorry for (doing something): · I'm sorry for barging in without ringing the bell.
especially American, spoken say this to tell someone you are sorry because you accidentally touched them or made a small or embarrassing mistake: · Oh, excuse me, is that your bag I just stood on?· Excuse me - I didn't realize there was anyone in here.
formal spoken say this when you make a small mistake and you want to say sorry politely: · "That's my pen." "Oh, I beg your pardon - I thought it was mine.''
also I apologise British say this to apologize in a fairly formal way, for example when you have upset someone or done something wrong or unfair: · You were right and I was wrong. I apologize.· I apologize in advance if anyone's offended by this.I apologize for: · I apologise for writing to you like this, out of the blue.
say this when you have done something that you later find out to be wrong or unfair: · It seems I owe you an apology -- I was supposed to phone you on Saturday night.I owe you an apology for (doing something): · I think I owe you an apology for my behaviour the other night.
say this when you have done something wrong or have upset someone, or when you are going to say or ask something that might seem rude or offensive: · Forgive me, I didn't mean to offend you.forgive me for doing something: · Forgive me for asking, but how old are you?· Forgive me for saying this, but you really don't look well at all.
used in formal letters: · Please accept my apologies. I will be taking steps to ensure this does not happen again.please accept my apologies for: · Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this error has caused.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He apologized unreservedly.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
to tell someone that you are sorry that you have done something wrong: He apologized unreservedly.· She asked me to apologize to you, should I see you, for not having answered your last letter.· Why are we asked to apologize to apologists of mass murder?
· Goldman never denied repeatedly trying to contact Lee after the incident but said she wanted him to apologize.· What I really want to do is apologize.· So the dilemma for these Congress members is this: Which slavery would they want to apologize for?
I’m so sorry, I do apologize.apologize to I think you should apologize to your brother.apologize for (doing) something He later apologized for his behaviour. I apologize for losing my temper.RegisterIn everyday English, people often use the phrases say (you are) sorry or tell someone you are sorry, rather than apologize (to somebody): I've already apologized to him. ➔ I’ve already told him I'm sorry.GRAMMAR: Patterns with apologize• You apologize for something: · We would like to apologize for the delay.• You apologize for doing something: · He apologized for being late.• You apologize to someone: · We apologize to passengers for the delay. ✗Don’t say: We apologize passengers for the delay.