rue

1 of 3

verb

ˈrü 

rued; ruing

transitive verb

: to feel penitence, remorse, or regret for

intransitive verb

: to feel sorrow, remorse, or regret

rue

2 of 3

noun (1)

: regret, sorrow

with rue my heart is laden

—A. E. Housman

rue

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a European strong-scented perennial woody herb (Ruta graveolens of the family Rutaceae, the rue family) that has bitter leaves used medicinally

Did you know?

If you remember your high school French, or if you've ever strolled down the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, you may have the notion that the English word rue is somehow connected to the French word for "street." In actuality, the French and English words are not related at all. Indeed, the English rue traveled its own road: it comes originally from the Old English word hrēow, meaning "sorrow." Used as both a noun meaning "sorrow, regret," and, more frequently, a verb meaning "to feel sorrow or regret for something," rue is very old, dating to before the 12th century. As for the rue that refers to an aromatic culinary and medicinal herb, that word has another history altogether, coming ultimately from the Greek word rhytē.

Synonyms

Verb

• bemoan
• deplore
• lament
• regret
• repent

Noun (1)

• contriteness
• contrition
• guilt
• penitence
• regret
• remorse
• remorsefulness
• repentance
• self-reproach
• shame

Examples of rue in a Sentence

Verb

He must be ruing his decision now.

I rue the day I agreed to this stupid plan.

Noun (1)

a soul filled with pain and rue

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Conversely, Piastri was left to rue a Virtual Safety Car that cost him the sprint race and qualified fourth for the race. —Dan Cancian, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025

Brighton were left to rue not making more of their dominance as the momentum shifted in the second half. —Andy Jones, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025

Noun

Just like Hamlet, one who bathes in melancholia, Juicy wears his rue with a difference. —David John Chávez, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025

Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news Lining grocery store shelves are supplements like omega fish oil, goat’s rue and others that sound more like the ingredients of a witch’s cauldron. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English rewe, from Old English hrēow; akin to Old High German hriuwa sorrow

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin ruta, from Greek rhytē

First Known Use

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rue

• meadow rue
• rue anemone

Rhymes for rue

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

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Kids Definition

rue

1 of 2 verb

ˈrü 

rued; ruing

: to feel sorrow or regret for

rue

2 of 2 noun

: regret entry 2 sense 1, sorrow

Medical Definition

rue

noun

ˈrü 

: a strong-scented perennial woody herb (Ruta graveolens of the family Rutaceae, the rue family) that has bitter leaves used in medicine