excuse

noun countable

UK /ɪkˈskjuːs/

Word Forms

singular	excuse
plural	excuses

1
a reason that you give to explain why you have done something bad, or why you have not done something that you should have done
a reasonable/valid/legitimate excuse
excuse for:
What excuse did they give for the delay?
have an excuse:
Joe was late, but as always he had an excuse.
make/give an excuse:
He made some excuse about having a lot of work to do.
Synonyms and related words
Reasons and excuses
reason
excuse
point
2
a reason for doing something that you want to do
excuse for:
Birthdays are always a good excuse for a party.
an excuse to do something:
Emily was glad of an excuse to change the subject.
Synonyms and related words
Reasons and excuses
reason
excuse
point

phrases

make your excuses

a pathetic/poor/sad excuse for something

there is no excuse for something

excuse

noun countable

US /ɪkˈskjus/

Word Forms

singular	excuse
plural	excuses

1
a reason that you give to explain why you have done something bad, or why you have not done something that you should have done
a reasonable/valid/legitimate excuse
excuse for:
What excuse did they give for the delay?
have an excuse:
Joe was late, but as always he had an excuse.
make/give an excuse:
He made some excuse about having a lot of work to do.
Synonyms and related words
Reasons and excuses
reason
excuse
point
2
a reason for doing something that you want to do
excuse for:
Birthdays are always a good excuse for a party.
an excuse to do something:
Emily was glad to have an excuse to change the subject.
Synonyms and related words
Reasons and excuses
reason
excuse
point
3
Americana note written by your parent or your doctor that explains why you have missed work or school
You’ll have to bring an excuse from your mother.
Synonyms and related words
Attendance and non-attendance at school or university
absence
absenteeism
attend

phrases

make your excuses

a pathetic/poor/sad excuse for something

there is no excuse for something

excuse

verb transitive

UK /ɪkˈskjuːz/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	excuse
he/she/it	excuses
present participle	excusing
past tense	excused
past participle	excused

1
to forgive someone for something bad that they have done, especially something that is not very serious
Please excuse my untidy handwriting.
excuse someone for (doing) something:
I hope you’ll excuse us for leaving so early.
Synonyms and related words
To forgive or excuse
forgive
excuse
let off
2
to provide a reason or explanation for something bad that someone has done, in order to make it seem less bad
I know he’s over 70, but that doesn’t excuse his sexist attitudes.
Synonyms and related words
To give a reason or excuse for something
explain
argue
excuse
3
often passiveto give someone permission not to do something that they usually have to do
excuse someone from (doing) something:
You’re excused from doing the washing-up tonight.
Synonyms and related words
To allow something that is not usually allowed
excuse
exempt
stretch
1. 3a
  to give someone permission to leave
  Now if you’ll excuse us, we have to get going.
  Synonyms and related words
  To give someone permission to do something
  permit
  allow
  approve

phrases

excuse the expression

excuse me

excuse my ignorance

excuse yourself

excuse

verb transitive

US /ɪkˈskjuz/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	excuse
he/she/it	excuses
present participle	excusing
past tense	excused
past participle	excused

1
to forgive someone for something bad that they have done, especially something that is not very serious
Please excuse my messy handwriting.
excuse someone for (doing) something:
I hope you’ll excuse us for leaving so early.
Synonyms and related words
To forgive or excuse
forgive
excuse
let off
2
often passiveto give someone permission to leave
Now if you’ll excuse us, we have to get going.
Synonyms and related words
To give someone permission to do something
permit
allow
approve
1. 2a
  to give someone permission not to do something that they usually have to do
  excuse someone from (doing) something:
  You’re excused from doing the dishes tonight.
  Synonyms and related words
  To allow something that is not usually allowed
  excuse
  exempt
  stretch
3
to provide a reason or explanation for something bad that someone has done, in order to make it seem less bad
I know he’s over 70, but that doesn’t excuse his sexist attitudes.
Synonyms and related words
To give a reason or excuse for something
explain
argue
excuse

phrases

excuse the expression

excuse me

excuse my ignorance

excuse yourself

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