Regret I Regretted Rɪˈɡret Decision Verb Lives Action

• if you don't do it now, you'll only regret it.
• the decision could be one he lives to regret.
• i soon came to regret my action.
• ‘i've had a wonderful life,’ she said, ‘i don't regret a thing.’

regret

Verb Forms

1. to feel sorry about something you have done or about something that you have not been able to do
• If you don't do it now, you'll only regret it.
• The decision could be one he lives to regret.
• I soon came to regret my action.
• ‘I've had a wonderful life,’ she said, ‘I don't regret a thing.’
• She regretted the words the moment they were out of her mouth.
• He bitterly regretted ever having mentioned it.
• I never regretted dropping out of college.
• I deeply regret what I said.
• I regret that I never got to meet him in person.

Extra Examples

• I immediately regretted not asking for his name and address.
• It was a decision she would soon regret.
• Pierre told them some things he later regretted telling.
• She knew that she would live to regret this decision.
2. used to say in a polite or formal way that you are sorry or sad about a situation
• The airline regrets any inconvenience.
• The president said that his country deeply regretted the incident.
• The United States regrets the loss of innocent civilian lives.
• I regret that I am unable to accept your kind invitation.
• I very much regret that I cannot be with you this evening.
• We regret to inform you that your application has not been successful.
• I regret to say that we cannot let you have the picture.
• It is to be regretted that so many young people leave school without qualifications.

Word Origin

• late Middle English: from Old French regreter ‘bewail (the dead)’.