apologize
/əˈpɒlədʒʌɪz
/(also apologise)
verb [no object]
Express regret for something that one has done wrong: I must apologize for disturbing you like this we apologize to him for our error...
- The family regrets and apologizes for the omission in the previous obituary.
- His staff are striving to find a form of words to allow him to express his regret without officially apologising for the debacle.
- I informed him that I had come back to apologize for the wrong I had done, if he would permit me to do so.
Synonyms
say sorry, express regret, be apologetic, make an apology, ask forgiveness, beg (someone's) forgiveness, ask for pardon, beg (someone's) pardon
informal eat humble pie, eat one's words
Origin
Late 16th century (in the sense 'make a defensive argument'): from Greek apologizesthai 'give an account', from apologos (see apologue). In English the verb has always been used as if it were a direct derivative of apology.