Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
regret
I. re‧gret W3 /rɪˈɡret/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle regretted, present participle regretting) [transitive]
[Word Family: adverb: regrettably, regretfully; adjective: regrettable, regretful; verb: regret; noun: regret]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: regreter]
1. to feel sorry about something you have done and wish you had not done it:
Don’t do anything you might regret.
regret doing something
I regret leaving school so young.
regret (that)
He was beginning to regret that he’d come along.
2. [not in progressive] formal used in official letters or statements when saying that you are sorry or sad about something:
We regret any inconvenience caused to our customers.
regret (that)
I regret that I will be unable to attend.
regret to say/inform/tell
I regret to inform you that your contract will not be renewed.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ deeply/greatly I deeply regretted what had happened.
▪ bitterly (=with a feeling of great sadness) I bitterly regretted my decision to leave.
▪ sincerely The airline sincerely regrets any delays to passengers.
▪ very much We very much regret that there will be job losses.
▪ instantly/immediately ‘No,’ she blurted out, instantly regretting her response.
■ phrases
▪ live to regret something (=regret it in the future) If you don’t go, you may live to regret it.
II. regret2 BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: adverb: regrettably, regretfully; adjective: regrettable, regretful; verb: regret; noun: regret]
1. [countable usually plural, uncountable] sadness that you feel about something, especially because you wish it had not happened
regret about
I have no regrets about leaving.
great/deep regret
She has already expressed deep regret for what happened.
with regret
I decided with some regret that it was time to move on.
It is with great regret that I must decline your offer.
to sb’s regret
I lost touch with her, much to my regret.
2. give/send your regrets formal to say that you are unable to go to a meeting, accept an invitation etc:
My father was ill and had to send his regrets.
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ great/deep regret I accepted his resignation with great regret.
▪ bitter regret (=when you feel sad and angry) To the bitter regret of his party, he refused to call an election.
▪ sb’s biggest regret Her biggest regret was not having children.
▪ sb’s only regret My only regret is that my parents did not live to see this day.
■ verbs
▪ have regrets I have absolutely no regrets.
▪ express regret The President expressed his regret at the deaths.
■ phrases
▪ a pang/twinge/stab of regret literary (=a sudden short feeling of regret) Kate watched her go with a pang of regret.
THESAURUS
▪ guilt the feeling you have when you have done something you know is wrong: Divorce often leaves people with feelings of guilt.
▪ shame the feeling of being guilty or embarrassed that you have after doing something that is wrong, when you feel you have lost people’s respect: I was too scared to help him, and I was filled with shame.
▪ regret a feeling of sadness about something, especially because you wish it had not happened: Kate watched her go with a pang of regret.
▪ remorse a strong feeling of being sorry for doing something very bad: a murderer who showed no remorse
▪ contrition formal a feeling of being guilty and sorry for something wrong that you have done: The company CEO expressed contrition for the errors that led to the crash. | He sounded full of contrition. | They wanted to perform some kind of act of contrition (=do something that shows you feel sorry for something ).
▪ penitence formal a feeling of being sorry for something that you have done wrong, when you do not intend to do it again: He expressed genuine penitence at the harm he had done her. | a period of reflection and penitence
▪ conscience the part of your mind that tells you whether what you are doing is morally right or wrong: My conscience has been troubling me ever since.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
regret
re·gret [regret regrets regretted regretting] verb, noun [rɪˈɡret] [rɪˈɡret]
verb (-tt-)
1. to feel sorry about sth you have done or about sth that you have not been able to do
• ~ sth If you don't do it now, you'll only regret it.
• The decision could be one he lives to regret.
• ‘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.
• ~ doing sth He bitterly regretted ever having mentioned it.
• ~ what, how, etc… I deeply regret what I said.
• ~ that… I regret that I never got to meet him in person.
2. (formal) used to say in a polite or formal way that you are sorry or sad about a situation
• ~ sth The airline regrets any inconvenience.
• ~ that… I regret that I am unable to accept your kind invitation.
• ~ to do sth We regret to inform you that your application has not been successful.
• it is regretted that… It is to be regretted that so many young people leave school without qualifications.
Verb forms:
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French regreter ‘bewail (the dead)’.
Thesaurus:
regret verb T, I (formal, especially written)
• The airline regrets any inconvenience.
apologize • |especially BrE, formal, spoken beg sb's pardon •
regret/apologize that…
apologize/beg sb's pardon for sth
apologize/beg sb's pardon if…
Regret or beg sb's pardon? Regret is used in writing and in formal announcements, especially on behalf of a company or organization; beg sb's pardon is also formal but it is more personal, used by an individual speaking to another individual.
Example Bank:
• 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.
• The president said that his country deeply regretted the incident.
• ‘I've had a wonderful life,’ she said, ‘I don't regret a thing.’
• If you don't do it now, you'll only regret it.
• It is to be regretted that so many young people leave school without qualifications.
• The decision could be one he lives to regret.
noun uncountable, countable
a feeling of sadness or disappointment that you have because of sth that has happened or sth that you have done or not done
• It is with great regret that I accept your resignation.
• She expressed her regret at the decision.
• a pang/twinge of regret
• I have no regrets about leaving Newcastle (= I do not feel sorry about it).
• What is your greatest regret (= the thing that you are most sorry about doing or not doing)?
• He gave up teaching in 2009, much to the regret of his students.
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French regreter ‘bewail (the dead)’.
Thesaurus:
regret noun
1. U, C
• He gave up teaching in 2007, much to the regret of his students.
disappointment • • sadness • • unhappiness • • grief • |formal sorrow • |literary melancholy •
Opp: satisfaction, Opp: happiness
regret/disappointment/sadness/unhappiness/grief/sorrow/melancholy at/about/over sth
regret/sadness/grief/sorrow for sth
to your regret/disappointment/grief/sorrow
with regret/sorrow/sadness
2. U, C
• She expressed deep regret at the incident.
remorse • • shame • • guilt • |formal, especially religion repentance •
Opp: pride
regret/remorse/shame/guilt at sth
regret/remorse/repentance for sth
feel (no) regret/remorse/shame/guilt
Example Bank:
• Her biggest regret was that she had never had children.
• I have absolutely no regrets about resigning.
• I never learned to play an instrument and that's a matter of some regret.
• It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Mr Fred Fisher.
• She enjoyed living alone, but felt a tiny pang of regret for her mother's cooking.
• She expressed deep regret at the incident.
• She showed no regret about leaving her country.
• She thought of them without regret.
• The police offered no expression of regret at his wrongful arrest.
• To my regret, I lost touch with her years ago.
• my sincere regret at what has happened
• He gave up teaching in 2007, much to the regret of his students.
• James felt a twinge of regret at missing the party.
• What is your greatest regret?
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
regret
regret /rɪˈgret/
noun [C or U]
a feeling of sadness about something sad or wrong or about a mistake that you have made, and a wish that it could have been different and better:
I left school at 16, but I've had a great life and I have no regrets.
The manager expressed deep regret at/for the number of staff reductions.
We think, much to our regret (= and we regret this very much), that we will not be able to visit you next year.
regret /rɪˈgret/
verb [T] -tt-
to feel regret:
Is there anything you've done in your life that you regret?
[+ ing form of verb] I have always regretted not having studied harder at school.
[+ (that)] FORMAL The council regrets (that) the money to subsidise the youth club is no longer available.
[+ to infinitive] FORMAL British Airways regret to announce the cancellation of flight BA205 to Madrid.
regretful /rɪˈgret.fəl/
adjective
expressing regret:
a regretful goodbye/glance/smile
regretfully /rɪˈgret.fəl.i/
adverb
regrettable /rɪˈgret.ə.bļ/ US /-ˈgreţ-/
adjective FORMAL
making you feel sad and sorry about something:
a most/deeply regrettable mistake
regrettably /rɪˈgret.ə.bli/ US /-ˈgreţ-/
adverb
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
regret
[rɪgre̱t]
regrets, regretting, regretted
1) VERB If you regret something that you have done, you wish that you had not done it.
[V n] I simply gave in to him, and I've regretted it ever since...
[V that] Ellis seemed to be regretting that he had asked the question...
[V -ing] Five years later she regrets having given up her home.
2) N-VAR Regret is a feeling of sadness or disappointment, which is caused by something that has happened or something that you have done or not done.
My great regret in life is that I didn't bring home the America's Cup...
Lillee said he had no regrets about retiring.
3) VERB (politeness) You can say that you regret something as a polite way of saying that you are sorry about it. You use expressions such as I regret to say or I regret to inform you to show that you are sorry about something.
[V n] `I very much regret the injuries he sustained,' he said...
[V that] I regret that the United States has added its voice to such protests...
[V to-inf] Her lack of co-operation is nothing new, I regret to say...
[V to-inf] I regret to inform you he died as a consequence of his injuries.
4) N-UNCOUNT If someone expresses regret about something, they say that they are sorry about it. [FORMAL]
He expressed great regret and said that surgeons would attempt to reverse the operation...
President Aquino says she has accepted his resignation with regret.