apologize
verb /əˈpɒlədʒaɪz/
/əˈpɑːlədʒaɪz/
(British English also apologise)
[intransitive]Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they apologize | /əˈpɒlədʒaɪz/ /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪz/ |
| he / she / it apologizes | /əˈpɒlədʒaɪzɪz/ /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪzɪz/ |
| past simple apologized | /əˈpɒlədʒaɪzd/ /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪzd/ |
| past participle apologized | /əˈpɒlədʒaɪzd/ /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪzd/ |
| -ing form apologizing | /əˈpɒlədʒaɪzɪŋ/ /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪzɪŋ/ |
- to say that you are sorry for doing something wrong or causing a problem
- Why should I apologize?
- apologize to somebody Go and apologize to her.
- He wanted to publicly apologize to his victims.
- I want to apologize publicly on his behalf to those who have suffered.
- He apologized profusely to his family and staff.
- apologize for something I sincerely apologize for the enormous delay in delivery.
- We apologize for the late departure of this flight.
- I think Mr Peters should withdraw and apologize for his remark.
- I apologize unreservedly for any offending remarks I made.
- apologize to somebody for something We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience caused.
Wordfinder- amends
- apologize
- ashamed
- embarrassed
- forgive
- regret
- remorse
- repent
- sorry
- sympathy
Extra Examples- I'd like to apologize in advance for any spelling errors.
- He apologized to his colleagues.
- I do apologize most humbly.
- I must apologize for cancelling our meeting at such short notice.
- I must apologize for not letting you know sooner.
- I would like to apologize most sincerely for any embarrassment caused.
- She apologized for being late.
- The president of the company apologized personally for the tragic accident.
- I apologize if I've interrupted your work.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- sincerely
- profusely
- humbly
- …
- ought to
- should
- want to
- …
- for
- to
- I do apologize
- I must apologize
Word Originlate 16th cent. (in the sense ‘make a defensive argument’): from Greek apologizesthai ‘give an account’, from apologos ‘story’. In English the verb has always been used as if it were a direct derivative of apology.
Express Yourself ApologizingApologizingWhen you have caused a problem for somebody, they are less likely to be very angry if you can make a polite apology:
- I'm so/terribly/very sorry I'm late.
- I do apologize. I'll get you another cup.
- I must apologize for keeping you waiting.
- We would like to apologize on behalf of the management.
- We would like to offer/Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience.
- That's all right/OK.
- No problem.
- Don't worry about it.
- It's fine, really.