to feel sorry for sb对(對)某人表示同情 (duì mǒurén biǎoshì tóngqíng)
to be sorry about sth对(對)某事表示歉意 (duì mǒushì biǎoshì qiànyì)
I'm sorry if I offended you如果我冒犯了你，我很抱歉 (rúguǒ wǒ màofànle nǐ, wǒ hěn bàoqiàn)
I'm sorry to hear that ... 听(聽)到 ... 我很伤(傷)心 (tīngdào ... wǒ hěn shāngxīn)
a sorry sight悲惨(慘)景象 (bēicǎn jǐngxiàng)
sorry?
(= pardon?) 请(請)再讲(講)一遍 (qǐng zài jiǎng yī biàn)
See sorry (sense 2)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of conscience-stricken
Definition
feeling guilty because of having done something wrong
Synonyms
guilty,
troubled,
sorry,
disturbed,
ashamed,
contrite,
repentant,
remorseful,
penitent,
compunctious
in the sense of contrite
Definition
full of guilt or regret
He was so contrite that he wrote me a letter of apology.
Synonyms
sorry,
humble,
chastened,
sorrowful,
repentant,
remorseful,
regretful,
penitent,
conscience-stricken,
in sackcloth and ashes
in the sense of deplorable
Definition
very bad or unpleasant
Many of them work under deplorable conditions.
Synonyms
terrible (informal),
distressing,
dreadful,
sad,
unfortunate,
disastrous,
miserable,
dire,
melancholy,
heartbreaking,
grievous,
regrettable,
lamentable,
calamitous,
wretched,
pitiable
in the sense of disconsolate
Definition
sad beyond comfort
He was looking increasingly disconsolate.
Synonyms
sad,
low,
unhappy,
miserable,
gloomy,
dismal,
melancholy,
forlorn,
woeful,
dejected,
wretched,
down in the dumps (informal)
in the sense of dismal
Definition
gloomy and depressing
You can't occupy yourself with dismal thoughts all the time.
Synonyms
sad,
gloomy,
melancholy,
black,
dark,
depressing,
discouraging,
bleak,
dreary,
sombre,
forlorn,
despondent,
lugubrious,
sorrowful,
wretched,
funereal,
cheerless,
dolorous
in the sense of mean
Definition
shabby and poor
He was raised in the mean streets of the central market district.
Synonyms
shabby,
poor,
miserable,
rundown,
beggarly,
seedy,
scruffy,
sordid,
paltry,
squalid,
tawdry,
low-rent (informal),
contemptible,
wretched,
down-at-heel,
grungy (slang),
scuzzy (slang, US)
in the sense of melancholy
Definition
characterized by, causing, or expressing sadness
It was at this time of day that I felt most melancholy.
Synonyms
sad,
down,
depressed,
unhappy,
low,
blue,
miserable,
moody,
gloomy,
dismal,
sombre,
woeful,
glum,
mournful,
dejected,
despondent,
dispirited,
melancholic,
downcast,
lugubrious,
pensive,
sorrowful,
disconsolate,
joyless,
doleful,
downhearted,
heavy-hearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
woebegone,
down in the mouth,
low-spirited
in the sense of miserable
Definition
mean or ungenerous
They have so far accepted only a miserable 1,100 refugees.
Synonyms
pathetic,
low,
sorry,
disgraceful,
mean,
shameful,
shabby,
abject,
despicable,
deplorable,
lamentable,
contemptible,
scurvy (old-fashioned),
pitiable,
detestable,
piteous
in the sense of mournful
Definition
feeling or expressing grief and sadness
He looked mournful, even near to tears.
Synonyms
dismal,
sad,
unhappy,
miserable,
gloomy,
grieving,
melancholy,
sombre,
heartbroken,
desolate,
woeful,
rueful,
heavy,
downcast,
grief-stricken,
lugubrious,
disconsolate,
joyless,
funereal,
heavy-hearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
cheerless,
brokenhearted
in the sense of pathetic
Definition
distressingly inadequate
That's the most pathetic excuse I've ever heard.
Synonyms
inadequate,
useless,
feeble,
poor,
sorry,
wet (British, informal),
pants (informal),
miserable,
petty,
worthless,
meagre,
pitiful,
woeful,
deplorable,
lamentable,
trashy,
measly (informal),
crummy (slang),
crappy (slang),
rubbishy,
poxy (slang),
wanky (taboo, slang),
chickenshit (US, slang)
Synonyms of 'sorry'
sorry
Explore 'sorry' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of penitent
Definition
feeling regret for one's sins
a penitent sinner
Synonyms
repentant,
sorry,
apologetic,
abject,
atoning,
rueful,
contrite,
sorrowful,
remorseful,
regretful,
conscience-stricken
in the sense of piteous
Definition
arousing or deserving pity
a piteous sight
Synonyms
pathetic,
moving,
affecting,
distressing,
sad,
miserable,
dismal,
poignant,
harrowing,
heartbreaking,
grievous,
pitiful,
woeful,
deplorable,
mournful,
lamentable,
plaintive,
heart-rending,
sorrowful,
gut-wrenching,
wretched,
doleful,
pitiable
in the sense of pitiable
Definition
arousing or deserving pity or contempt
Her grandmother seemed to her a pitiable figure.
Synonyms
pathetic,
distressing,
miserable,
poor,
sorry,
sad,
dismal,
harrowing,
grievous,
woeful,
deplorable,
mournful,
lamentable,
gut-wrenching,
wretched,
doleful,
piteous
in the sense of pitiful
Definition
arousing or deserving great pity or contempt
It was the most pitiful sight I had ever seen.
Synonyms
pathetic,
distressing,
miserable,
harrowing,
heartbreaking,
grievous,
sad,
woeful,
deplorable,
lamentable,
heart-rending,
gut-wrenching,
wretched,
pitiable,
piteous
in the sense of poor
Definition
pitiable
I feel sorry for that poor child.
Synonyms
unfortunate,
pathetic,
miserable,
unlucky,
hapless,
pitiful,
luckless,
wretched,
ill-starred,
pitiable,
ill-fated
in the sense of remorseful
He was genuinely remorseful.
Synonyms
regretful,
sorry,
guilty,
sad,
ashamed,
apologetic,
chastened,
rueful,
contrite,
sorrowful,
repentant,
guilt-ridden,
penitent,
conscience-stricken,
self-reproachful
in the sense of repentant
a repentant criminal
Synonyms
regretful,
sorry,
ashamed,
apologetic,
chastened,
rueful,
contrite,
remorseful,
penitent,
self-reproachful
in the sense of shamefaced
Definition
embarrassed or guilty
There was a long silence and my father looked shamefaced.
Synonyms
embarrassed,
humiliated,
ashamed,
red-faced,
chagrined,
mortified,
sheepish,
contrite,
discomfited,
remorseful,
abashed,
conscience-stricken
in the sense of sorrowful
His father's face looked suddenly soft and sorrowful.
Synonyms
sad,
unhappy,
miserable,
sorry,
depressed,
painful,
distressed,
grieving,
dismal,
afflicted,
melancholy,
tearful,
heartbroken,
woeful,
mournful,
dejected,
rueful,
lugubrious,
wretched,
disconsolate,
doleful,
heavy-hearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
woebegone,
piteous,
sick at heart
in the sense of unhappy
Definition
sad or depressed
Her boss is horrible and she is desperately unhappy.
Synonyms
sad,
depressed,
miserable,
down,
low,
blue,
gloomy,
melancholy,
mournful,
dejected,
despondent,
dispirited,
downcast,
long-faced,
sorrowful,
disconsolate,
crestfallen,
down in the dumps (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of vile
Definition
morally wicked
a vile and despicable crime
Synonyms
wicked,
base,
evil,
mean,
bad,
low,
shocking,
appalling,
ugly,
corrupt,
miserable,
vicious,
humiliating,
perverted,
coarse,
degrading,
worthless,
disgraceful,
vulgar,
degenerate,
abject,
sinful,
despicable,
depraved,
debased,
loathsome,
contemptible,
impure,
wretched,
nefarious,
ignoble
sorry
(sɒri)
Word forms: comparative sorrier, superlative sorriest
1. convention
You say 'Sorry' or 'I'm sorry' as a way of apologizing to someone for something that you have done which has upset them or caused them difficulties, or when you bump into them accidentally.
[formulae]
'We're all talking at the same time.'—'Yeah. Sorry.'
Sorry I took so long.
Sorry for barging in like this.
I'm really sorry if I said anything wrong.
I'm sorry to call so late, but I need a favour.
The next morning she came into my room and said she was sorry.
If you are sorry about a situation, you feel regret, sadness, or disappointment about it.
She was very sorry about all the trouble she'd caused. [+ about]
I'm sorry about what's happened. [+ about]
I'm sorry he's gone.
He was sorry to see them go.
Synonyms: regretful, apologetic, contrite, repentant More Synonyms of sorry
3. convention
You use I'm sorry or sorry as an introduction when you are telling a person something that you do not think they will want to hear, for example when you are disagreeing with them or giving them bad news.
No, I'm sorry, I can't agree with you.
'I'm sorry,' he told the real estate agent, 'but we really must go now.'
I'm sorry, but Miss Lee is resting and can't be disturbed.
Sorry–no baths after ten o'clock.
I'm sorry to have to tell you that Janet West is dead.
4.
See (you)'ll be sorry
5.
See I'm sorry to say
6. convention
You say 'I'm sorry' to express your regret and sadness when you hear sad or unpleasant news.
[feelings]
I've heard about Mollie–I'm so sorry.
'I'm afraid he's ill.'—'I'm sorry to hear that.'
7. adjective
If you feel sorry for someone who is unhappy or in an unpleasant situation, you feel sympathy and sadness for them.
I felt sorry for him and his colleagues–it must have been so frustrating for them. [+ for]
I am very sorry for the family. [+ for]
Synonyms: sympathetic, moved, full of pity, pitying More Synonyms of sorry
8. adjective
You say that someone is feeling sorry forthemselves when you disapprove of the fact that they keep thinking unhappily about their problems, rather than trying to be cheerful and positive.
[disapproval]
What he must not do is to sit around at home feeling sorry for himself. [+ for]
Synonyms: sad, distressed, unhappy, grieved More Synonyms of sorry
9. convention
You say 'Sorry?' when you have not heard something that someone has said and you want them to repeat it.
[formulae]
10. convention
You use sorry when you correct yourself and use different words to say what you have just said, especially when what you say the second time does not use the words you would normally choose to use.
Barcelona will be hoping to bring the trophy back to Spain–sorry, Catalonia–for thefirst time.
11. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If someone or something is in a sorry state, they are in a bad state, mentally or physically.
The fire left Kuwait's oil industry in a sorry state.
She is a sorry sight.
They were a sorry lot.
Synonyms: wretched, miserable, pathetic, mean More Synonyms of sorry
12. better safe than sorry
sorry in British English
(ˈsɒrɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: -rier or -riest
1. (usually postpositive; often foll byfor)
feeling or expressing pity, sympathy, remorse, grief, or regret
I feel sorry for him
2.
pitiful, wretched, or deplorable
a sorry sight
3.
poor; paltry
a sorry excuse
4.
affected by sorrow; sad
5.
causing sorrow or sadness
exclamation
6.
an exclamation expressing apology, used esp at the time of the misdemeanour, offence, etc
Derived forms
sorrily (ˈsorrily)
adverb
sorriness (ˈsorriness)
noun
Word origin
Old English sārig; related to Old High German sērag; see sore
sorry in American English
(ˈsɑri; ˈsɔri)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈsorrier or ˈsorriest
1.
full of sorrow, pity, or sympathy: also used as an expression of apology or mild regret
2.
a.
inferior in worth or quality; poor
a sorry exhibit
b.
wretched; miserable
a sorry tenement
Derived forms
sorrily (ˈsorrily)
adverb
sorriness (ˈsorriness)
noun
Word origin
ME sorie < OE sarig < sar, sore
Examples of 'sorry' in a sentence
sorry
This is not about feeling sorry for people.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We are sorry for any offence caused.
The Sun (2008)
We wanted to say personally how very sorry we were about what had happened.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You can say sorry and move on.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Send flowers and write her a letter so she hears how sorry you are.
The Sun (2014)
There was no feeling sorry for yourself.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We must not feel sorry for ourselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They are deeply sorry for the offence they have caused.
The Sun (2015)
One of my students came up with a name for the whole sorry situation.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It might take them a minute to realise you really are sorry.
The Sun (2010)
But she must say sorry and not see the neighbour.
The Sun (2010)
Tell her you can understand why she might feel that way and that you are sorry she feels bad.
Martin, April The Guide to Lesbian and Gay Parenting (1993)
It was indeed a sorry sight.
Kenneth Grahame The Wind in the Willows (1908)
The offender is simply made to say to sorry to his victim and in return he will not get a criminal record.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And it is understood the player appeared genuinely sorry for his use of language and is writing personally to the woman who complained.
The Sun (2011)
She'll be sorry to hear that he does so again.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Officials hope to avoid the sorry sight of a third of the 90,000 stadium being empty.
The Sun (2010)
It's hard to see anyone feeling sorry for them.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I used to feel sorry for my daughter when she was growing up.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She said: 'We are really sorry about this.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She ended simply: 'I am sorry.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It said: 'We were sorry to hear about this issue.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
sorry
British English: sorry /ˈsɒrɪ/ INTERJECTION
You say `Sorry!' as a way of apologizing to someone for something that you have done which has upset them or caused them difficulties, or when you bump into them accidentally.
American English: sorry!
Arabic: آسِف
Brazilian Portuguese: sinto muito!
Chinese: 对不起！
Croatian: oprostite!
Czech: promiňte!
Danish: undskyld
Dutch: sorry!
European Spanish: ¡perdón!
Finnish: anteeksi!
French: pardon !
German: Verzeihung!
Greek: συγγνώμη!
Italian: scusi!
Japanese: ごめんなさい！
Korean: 미안!
Norwegian: beklager!
Polish: przepraszam!
European Portuguese: desculpe!
Romanian: pardon
Russian: простите!
Latin American Spanish: ¡perdón!
Swedish: förlåt!
Thai: ขอโทษ
Turkish: affedersiniz!
Ukrainian: вибачте
Vietnamese: xin lỗi!
British English: sorry /ˈsɒrɪ/ ADJECTIVE
regretful If you are sorry about something, you feel sad about it.
I'm sorry he's gone.
American English: sorry
Arabic: آسِف
Brazilian Portuguese: lamentar
Chinese: 遗憾的
Croatian: žao mi je
Czech: zarmoucený
Danish: ked af det
Dutch: spijtig
European Spanish: apenado
Finnish: pahoillaan
French: être désolé
German: leidtun
Greek: λυπημένος
Italian: dispiaciuto
Japanese: 寂しく思う
Korean: 유감스러운
Norwegian: beklager
Polish: być przykro
European Portuguese: lamentar
Romanian: a regreta
Russian: сожалеть
Latin American Spanish: triste
Swedish: ledsen
Thai: เสียใจ เศร้า
Turkish: üzgün olmak
Ukrainian: співчуваючий
Vietnamese: thương tiếc
British English: sorry /ˈsɒrɪ/ ADJECTIVE
sympathetic If you feel sorry for someone, you feel sad for them.
I felt sorry for him because nobody listened to him.