apologizeverb [ I ]
UK usually apologise uk/əˈpɒl.ə.dʒaɪz/us/əˈpɑː.lə.dʒaɪz/B1 to tell someone that you are sorry for having done something that has caused problems or unhappiness for them:
I must apologize to Isobel for my lateness.
Trains may be subject to delay - we apologize for any inconvenience caused.
She apologized profusely for having to leave at 3.30 p.m.
More examples
- I tried to apologize, but he just screamed abuse at me.
- Trains may be subject to delay on the northern line - we apologize for any inconvenience caused.
- Imagine the humiliation of having to apologize.
- She apologized profusely for having to leave at 3.30 p.m.
- He knew he had been wrong, and duly apologized.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making & accepting apologies
- absolution
- afraid
- atonement
- conciliate
- cut
- excusable
- excuse
- excuse/pardon my French! idiom
- forge
- forgiving
- make it up to sb idiom
- mend
- mend your fences idiom
- overlook
- pardon (me) idiom
- recompense
- reconcile
- repentant
- take sb back
- unrepentant
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