Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense apologizes, present participle apologizing, past tense apologizedregional note: in BRIT, also use apologise
verb
When you apologizeto someone, you say that you are sorry that you have hurt them or caused trouble for them. You can say 'I apologize' as a formal way of saying sorry.
Two years ago, Congress formally apologized for the internment. [Vfor n/-ing]
I apologize for being late. [VERB + for]
Costello later apologized, saying he'd been annoyed by the man. [VERB]
He apologized to the people who had been affected. [VERB + to]
[Also VERB with quote]
Synonyms: say sorry, express regret, ask forgiveness, make an apology More Synonyms of apologize
apologize in British English
or apologise (əˈpɒləˌdʒaɪz)
verb(intransitive)
1.
to express or make an apology; acknowledge failings or faults
2.
to make a formal defence in speech or writing
Derived forms
apologizer (aˈpoloˌgizer) or apologiser (aˈpoloˌgiser)
noun
apologize in American English
(əˈpɑləˌdʒaɪz)
verb intransitiveWord forms: aˈpoloˌgized or aˈpoloˌgizing
1.
to make an apology; acknowledge, and express regret for, a fault, wrong, etc.
2.
to make a formal defense in speech or writing
Derived forms
apologizer (aˈpoloˌgizer)
noun
apologize in Hospitality
(əpɒlədʒaɪz)
Word forms: (present) apologizes, (past) apologized, (perfect) apologized, (progressive) apologizing
verb
(Hospitality (hotel): General)
When you apologize to someone, you say that you are sorry that you have caused trouble for them.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ for~ to
The guest apologized for arriving late.
The manager apologized to the people who had been affected by the leak.
We apologize for any inconvenience this problem may cause our customers.
Useful phrasesApologizing formallyThe simplest way of apologizing for something that is not serious is to say I'm sorry or (for more emphasis), I'm very sorry or I'm so sorry.More formal ways of apologizing are I do apologize and I beg your pardon.To make a very formal apology, especially in writing, use Please accept my/our apologies.
Examples of 'apologize' in a sentence
apologize
On Monday afternoon, he publicly apologized for the pain he has caused his family.
Christianity Today (2000)
I apologized absolutely saying that I had entirely forgotten in my enthusiasm and was very sorry.
Stewart, Bob (Lt-Col) Broken Lives (1993)
In other languages
apologize
British English: apologize /əˈpɒləˌdʒaɪz/ VERB
When you apologize to someone, you say that you are sorry that you have hurt them or caused trouble for them.
He apologized to the people who had been affected.