Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense rues, present participle ruing, past tense, past participle rued
1. verb
If you rue something that you have done, you are sorry that you did it, because it has had unpleasant results.
[literary]
Tavare was probably ruing his decision. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: regret, mourn, grieve, lament More Synonyms of rue
2.
See rue the day
rue in British English1
(ruː)
verbWord forms: rues, ruing or rued
1.
to feel sorrow, remorse, or regret for (one's own wrongdoing, past events with unpleasant consequences, etc)
noun
2. archaic
sorrow, pity, or regret
Derived forms
ruer (ˈruer)
noun
Word origin
Old English hrēowan; related to Old Saxon hreuwan, Old High German hriuwan
rue in British English2
(ruː)
noun
any rutaceous plant of the genus Ruta, esp R. graveolens, an aromatic Eurasian shrub with small yellow flowers and evergreen leaves which yield an acrid volatile oil, formerly used medicinally as a narcotic and stimulant
Archaic name: herb of grace. Compare goat's-rue, meadow rue, wall rue
Word origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin rūta, from Greek rhutē
rue in American English1
(ru)
verb transitiveWord forms: rued or ˈruing
1.
to feel remorse or repentance for (a sin, fault, etc.)
2.
to wish (an act, promise, etc.) undone or unmade; regret
verb intransitive
3.
to be sorrowful or regretful
noun
4. Archaic
sorrow, repentance, or regret
Word origin
ME reowen < OE hreowan, akin to Ger reuen, to regret, ON hryggr, sorrowful, prob. < IE base *kreu-, to strike, beat > Gr krouein
rue in American English2
(ru)
noun
1.
any of a genus (Ruta) of strong-scented shrubs of the rue family, esp. an herb (R. graveolens) with yellow flowers and bitter-tasting leaves formerly used in medicine
adjective
2.
designating a family (Rutaceae, order Sapindales) of woody dicotyledonous plants, including the gas plant and the citrus plants
Word origin
OFr < L ruta < Gr rhytē
Examples of 'rue' in a sentence
rue
The home side may rue the fact that all of their top three reached 40 without completing fifties.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
United may rue missing out on him.
The Sun (2007)
B&B may rue being first in the line of fire this year.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The world of athletics may live to rue the day it lost one of its most gifted youngsters to weightlifting.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They may rue their cautious approach.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Or whether Australia will rue the one that got away.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
If the group is decided on goal difference, we may rue the chances that we missed.
The Sun (2010)
At that point the Greeks may really rue their recent history.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She may not care about wrecking your relationship but you'll rue the day if you let her.
The Sun (2014)
How Arsenal must rue the day they dithered over whether to buy Mata or not.
The Sun (2012)
Should Orient fail to progress, they may rue their missed chances yesterday.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The Government don't listen and they are going to rue the day.
The Sun (2012)
Some may rue the fact that GW had to cross the Atlantic to meet its fundraising needs.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Word lists with
rue
shrub
In other languages
rue
British English: rue VERB
If you rue something that you have done, you are sorry that you did it, because it has had unpleasant results.
He was probably ruing his decision.
American English: rue
Brazilian Portuguese: arrepender-se de
Chinese: 懊悔
European Spanish: arrepentirse de
French: regretter
German: bereuen
Italian: pentirsi amaramente di
Japanese: 後悔する
Korean: 후회하다
European Portuguese: arrepender-se de
Latin American Spanish: arrepentirse de
All related terms of 'rue'
wall rue
a delicate fern , Asplenium ruta-muraria, that grows in rocky crevices and walls in North America and Eurasia
goat's-rue
a Eurasian leguminous plant, Galega officinalis, cultivated for its white, mauve , or pinkish flowers: formerly used medicinally
meadow rue
any ranunculaceous plant of the N temperate genus Thalictrum , esp T. flavum, having clusters of small yellowish-green, white, or purple flowers
rue anemone
a small, North American , woodland perennial plant ( Anemonella thalictroides ) of the buttercup family, with white or pinkish flowers in early spring
rue the day
If you rue the day that you did something, you are sorry that you did it, because it has had unpleasant results.
(verb)
Definition
to feel regret for
(literary)
He was probably ruing his decision.
Synonyms
regret
She regrets having given up her home.
mourn
We mourned the loss of our cities.
grieve
He's grieving over his dead wife and son.
lament
It was traditional to lament deaths with a procession and a banquet.
deplore
They deplored the heavy loss of life in the earthquake.
bemoan
She continually bemoans her lot in life.
repent
Did he repent of anything in his life?
be sorry for
weep over
sorrow for
bewail
All your songs seem to bewail a dissatisfaction in love.
kick yourself for
reproach yourself for
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bemoan
Definition
to lament
She continually bemoans her lot in life.
Synonyms
lament,
regret,
complain about,
rue (literary),
deplore,
grieve for,
weep for,
bewail,
cry over spilt milk,
express sorrow about,
moan over
in the sense of bewail
Definition
to express great sorrow over
All your songs seem to bewail a dissatisfaction in love.
Synonyms
lament,
regret,
complain about,
moan about,
mourn,
rue (literary),
wail about,
deplore,
bemoan,
repent,
grieve for,
cry over,
weep over,
express sorrow for
in the sense of deplore
They deplored the heavy loss of life in the earthquake.
Synonyms
lament,
regret,
mourn,
rue (literary),
bemoan,
grieve for,
bewail,
sorrow over
Nearby words of
rue
rudeness
rudiment
rudimentary
rue
rueful
ruff
ruffian
Synonyms of 'rue'
rue
Explore 'rue' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of grieve
Definition
to feel or cause to feel great sorrow or distress
He's grieving over his dead wife and son.
Synonyms
mourn,
suffer,
weep,
ache,
lament,
sorrow,
wail
in the sense of lament
Definition
to feel or express sorrow or regret (for or over)
It was traditional to lament deaths with a procession and a banquet.
Synonyms
bemoan,
grieve,
mourn,
weep over,
complain about,
regret,
wail about,
deplore,
bewail
in the sense of mourn
Definition
to feel or express sadness for the death or loss of someone or something