I Feeling Sad Hope Lost Sympathy Feel Adjective

• we're very sorry about the damage to your car.
• i'm sorry about the mess—i haven't had a chance to tidy up yet.
• she is obviously deeply sorry for what she has done.
• we are sorry for the delay and hope the train will be moving again shortly.

sorry

1. feeling sad and ashamed about something that has been done
• We're very sorry about the damage to your car.
• I'm sorry about the mess—I haven't had a chance to tidy up yet.
• She is obviously deeply sorry for what she has done.
• We are sorry for the delay and hope the train will be moving again shortly.
• He says he's really sorry for taking the car without asking.
• She was sorry that she'd lost her temper.
• I am so sorry that this happened.
• If you say you're sorry we'll forgive you.
2. feeling sad and showing sympathy
• I'm sorry that your husband lost his job.
• We're sorry to hear that your father's in hospital again.
• I was sorry to see him go.
• No one is sorrier than I am about what happened.
• I am sorry about the way Dad treated you.
• I'm sorry about your mother. I do hope she'll soon be feeling better.
• I'm very sorry for your loss (= expressing sympathy when somebody has died).
3. feeling disappointed about something and wishing you had done something different or had not done something
• She was sorry that she'd lost contact with Mary.
• I'll make you sorry you were ever born!
• You'll be sorry if I catch you!
• I was genuinely sorry to be leaving college.
• She was almost sorry to stop work.
4. very sad or bad, especially making you feel pity or disapproval
• The business is in a sorry state.
• They were a sorry sight when they eventually got off the boat.
5. to be sad or feel sympathy for somebody
• He decided to help Jan as he felt sorry for her.
6. used to say that it is wiser to be too careful than to act too quickly and do something you may later wish you had not
• She decided to avoid travelling at night. Better safe than sorry.
7. to feel unhappy; to be sad about yourself because you are suffering
• Stop feeling sorry for yourself and think about other people for a change.
• Mitch felt slightly sorry for himself.
8. used when you are apologizing for something
• I'm sorry, I forgot.
• Oh, I'm sorry. Have I taken the one you wanted?
• I'm sorry. I can't make it tomorrow.
• I'm sorry to interrupt but there's an urgent call for you.

Extra Examples

• I am sorry to disappoint you.
• I'm awfully sorry Jane can't come with us.
• I'm sorry about the noise.
• I'm terribly sorry. I didn't catch your name.
9. used for disagreeing with somebody or politely saying ‘no’
• I'm sorry, I don't agree.
• I'm sorry, I'd rather you didn't go.
10. used for introducing bad news
• I'm sorry to have to tell you you've failed.
11. used for saying that something is disappointing
• He didn't accept the job, I'm sorry to say.

Word Origin

• Old English sārig ‘pained, distressed’, of West Germanic origin, from the base of the noun sore. The shortening of the root vowel has given the word an apparent connection with the unrelated sorrow.