regret

verb re·gret \ ri-ˈgret \

Definition of regret

regretted; regretting

transitive verb

1 a :to mourn the loss or death of

b :to miss very much

2 :to be very sorry for

regrets his mistakes

intransitive verb

:to experience regret

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regretter

noun

See regret defined for English-language learners

See regret defined for kids

Examples of regret in a Sentence

Don't say anything you might regret later.
I deeply regret what I said.
She does not regret leaving him.
He regrets not traveling more when he was younger.
He says he doesn't regret anything that he's done in his life.

Recent Examples of regret from the Web

Then, Rausch says, Charles Miller would remember and regret.

— kate santich, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Missing Orlando man: Family searching for lost brother," 3 Aug. 2017
Rejecting the spinster story in which Austen harbors regrets for a lost love –

— elizabeth toohey, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Jane Austen at Home' considers where and how Austen lived and why it matters," 17 July 2017
And despite these losses and even after the victory of Trump, who often falsely claims to have opposed the Iraq war from the start, there is little evidence the Republican Party regrets the lies that led to the war.

— jeet heer, New Republic, "Republicans Are Lying Their Way Toward a Health Care Catastrophe," 27 June 2017
When sober, many patients regret these efforts to take their own life.

— kunmi sobowale, Scientific American, "Raising Alcohol Taxes Can Curtail Assaults and Suicides," 26 June 2017
Rory McIlroy did the latter and seemed to regret it later on.

— jonathan jones, The MMQB, "Osweiler has to be the leader in the clubhouse to be under center when they host the Steelers on Sept. 10," 20 June 2017
Still, Dillon is confident that between overall growth in the beauty industry and Ulta's ability to tap into the desires of its beauty junkie customers, Ulta won't join the ranks of retailers regretting aggressive expansions.

— lauren zumbach, chicagotribune.com, "Ulta on Chicago's Mag Mile: New look for store No. 999," 15 June 2017
Ars Technica regrets any misleading implications or incorrect assumptions included in the framing of the original article.]

— kyle orland, Ars Technica, "Video gaming’s voice actor strike is ending in slow, small drips [Updated]," 5 June 2017
Additionally, PHL Airport regrets the significant inconvenience this has caused all those on board.

— Fox News, "First ever Philadelphia to Iceland flight diverted to Boston," 31 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'regret.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of regret

Middle English regretten, from Anglo-French regreter, from re- + -greter (perhaps of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse grāta to weep) — more at greet

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

regret Synonyms

Synonyms

bemoan, deplore, lament, repent, rue

Related Words

ache (for), bewail, grieve (for), mourn, sorrow (for)

Near Antonyms

delight (in), enjoy, relish, revel (in), savor (also savour)

regret

noun

Definition of regret

1 :sorrow aroused by circumstances beyond one's control or power to repair

2 a :an expression of distressing emotion (such as sorrow)

b regrets plural :a note politely declining an invitation

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regretful

play \-ˈgret-fəl\ adjective

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regretfulness

noun

See regret defined for English-language learners

Examples of regret in a Sentence

She has no regrets about leaving him.
My greatest regret is not going to college.
To my regret, I never visited Europe.
It is with deep regret that he is announcing his resignation.
My coworker gives her regrets for not being able to attend the meeting.

Recent Examples of regret from the Web

Albrecht has no regrets about his eventful college basketball career.

— mike hutton, Post-Tribune, "Hutton: Crown Point graduate Spike Albrecht can't say goodbye to basketball," 26 Aug. 2017
Opinion polls show that few Russians today regret leaving Afghanistan back in 1989.

— fred weir, The Christian Science Monitor, "As Trump doubles down on Afghanistan, Russians shake their heads," 25 Aug. 2017
That ties into his biggest — perhaps only — regret.

— tim healey, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Tom Koehler, traded by Marlins to Blue Jays, ‘would have loved to have gone out on different terms’," 21 Aug. 2017
John Lynch gets second chance to explain flag stance, regrets using ‘

— sacbee, "Sports Night: 49ers training camp ends," 18 Aug. 2017
My greatest regret of the NFL preseason is not the New Orleans Saints' decision to hold training camp in swampy, sweaty Metairie rather than mild, temperate West Virginia.

— jeff duncan, NOLA.com, "Saints make tough call to fire docs, but Delvin Breaux deserved better," 17 Aug. 2017
Jones, the detective said, expressed regret over the incident.

— clifford ward, Naperville Sun, "Boy traumatized after being struck by bus monitor, Naperville mom testifies," 24 July 2017
Affleck’s all-cotton character is the vestige of regret.

— gary thompson, Philly.com, "Casey Affleck gives a really sheety performance in 'A Ghost Story.'," 18 July 2017
From the City, Stories From the Sea command attention with atmospheric nuance and ringing riffs, respectively, and 2007's slower and more fragile White Chalk is haunted by memory and regret.

— annie zaleski, Chicago Reader, "Pitchfork’s veteran acts confront the trap of the crowd favorite," 12 July 2017

First Known Use of regret

circa 1500

regret Synonyms

Synonyms

contriteness, contrition, penitence, guilt, remorse, remorsefulness, repentance, rue, self-reproach, shame

Antonyms

impenitence, remorselessness

Synonym Discussion of regret

sorrow, grief, anguish, woe, regret mean distress of mind. sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

- a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

- the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

- the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

- cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

- nagging regret for missed opportunities

REGRET Defined for English Language Learners

regret

verb

Definition of regret for English Language Learners

: to feel sad or sorry about (something that you did or did not do) : to have regrets about (something)
—used formally and in writing to express sad feelings about something that is disappointing or unpleasant

regret

noun

Definition of regret for English Language Learners

: a feeling of sadness or disappointment about something that you did or did not do
regrets : a statement saying politely that you will not be able to go to a meeting, party, etc.