verbWord forms: -grets, -gretting or -gretted(transitive)
1. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive)
to feel sorry, repentant, or upset about
2.
to bemoan or grieve the death or loss of
noun
3.
a sense of repentance, guilt, or sorrow, as over some wrong done or an unfulfilled ambition
4.
a sense of loss or grief
5. (plural)
a polite expression of sadness, esp in a formal refusal of an invitation
▶ USAGE Regretful and regretfully are sometimes wrongly used where regrettable and regrettably are meant: he gave a regretful smile; he smiled regretfully; this is a regrettable (not regretful) mistake; regrettably (not regretfully), I shall be unable to attend
Derived forms
regretful (reˈgretful)
adjective
regretfully (reˈgretfully)
adverb
regretfulness (reˈgretfulness)
noun
regrettable (reˈgrettable)
adjective
regrettably (reˈgrettably)
adverb
regretter (reˈgretter)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French regrete, of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse grāta to weep
Examples of 'regretting' in a sentence
regretting
Eppstadt took a tentative backward step, regretting that he'd ever stepped out of the house.
Clive Barker COLDHEART CANYON (2001)
Then compressed her lips as though regretting the admission.
Fraser, Anthea DEATH SPEAKS SOFTLY (2001)
Now she may be regretting her choice.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And he must have been regretting that after just three minutes.
The Sun (2014)
If you spend the next few months and years regretting things, then it's pointless.
The Sun (2016)
These could lead to you regretting your decision.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The organisers were regretting the open-ended format.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A nation probably ended up regretting it.
The Sun (2016)
If they weren't regretting saving him before, they will be now.
The Sun (2012)
But instantly regretting what he has done, he rushes out.