regret

verb

/rɪˈɡret/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they regret	/rɪˈɡret/ /rɪˈɡret/
he / she / it regrets	/rɪˈɡrets/ /rɪˈɡrets/
past simple regretted	/rɪˈɡretɪd/ /rɪˈɡretɪd/
past participle regretted	/rɪˈɡretɪd/ /rɪˈɡretɪd/
-ing form regretting	/rɪˈɡretɪŋ/ /rɪˈɡretɪŋ/

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to feel sorry about something you have done or about something that you have not been able to do
- regret something If you don't do it now, you'll only regret it.
- The decision could be one he lives to regret.
- I soon came to regret my action.
- ‘I've had a wonderful life,’ she said, ‘I don't regret a thing.’
- She regretted the words the moment they were out of her mouth.
- regret doing something He bitterly regretted ever having mentioned it.
- I never regretted dropping out of college.
- regret what, how, etc… I deeply regret what I said.
- regret that I regret that I never got to meet him in person.
Extra Examples
- I immediately regretted not asking for his name and address.
- It was a decision she would soon regret.
- Pierre told them some things he later regretted telling.
- She knew that she would live to regret this decision.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- bitterly
- deeply
- greatly
- …
verb + regret
- begin to
- come to
- grow to
- …
See full entry
(formal) used to say in a polite or formal way that you are sorry or sad about a situation
- regret something The airline regrets any inconvenience.
- The president said that his country deeply regretted the incident.
- The United States regrets the loss of innocent civilian lives.
- regret that I regret that I am unable to accept your kind invitation.
- I very much regret that I cannot be with you this evening.
- regret to do something We regret to inform you that your application has not been successful.
- I regret to say that we cannot let you have the picture.
- it is regretted that… It is to be regretted that so many young people leave school without qualifications.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- bitterly
- deeply
- greatly
- …
verb + regret
- begin to
- come to
- grow to
- …
See full entry

Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French regreter ‘bewail (the dead)’.

Wordfinder

amends
apologize
ashamed
embarrassed
forgive
regret
remorse
repent
sorry
sympathy

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regret

noun

/rɪˈɡret/

[uncountable, countable]

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a sad feeling because of something that has happened or something that you have done or not done
- a feeling/pang/twinge of regret
- It is a matter of regret that no proper investigation was carried out at the time.
- What is your greatest regret (= the thing that you are most sorry about doing or not doing)?
- with regret It is with great regret that I accept your resignation.
- regret at something She expressed her regret at the decision.
- regret at doing something She admitted her regrets at having had to give up her youthful ambitions.
- regret about doing something I have no regrets about leaving Newcastle (= I do not feel sorry about it).
- regret about something He confessed to a few regrets about his time in Parliament.
- regret for something There has still been no official expression of regret for their deaths.
- regret for doing something He said he felt deep regret for having been part of a government that had brutally violated human rights.
- He gave up teaching in 2009, much to the regret of his students.
Extra Examples
- Her biggest regret was that she had never had children.
- I have absolutely no regrets about resigning.
- I never learned to play an instrument and that's a matter of some regret.
- It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Mr Fred Fisher.
- She enjoyed living alone, but felt a tiny pang of regret for her mother's cooking.
- She showed no regret about leaving her country.
- She thought of them without regret.
- The police offered no expression of regret at his wrongful arrest.
- To my regret, I lost touch with her years ago.
- my sincere regret at what has happened
- James felt a twinge of regret at missing the party.
Topics Feelingsb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- big
- bitter
- deep
- …
… of regret
- pang
- stab
- tinge
- …
verb + regret
- feel
- have
- express
- …
preposition
- to your regret
- with regret
- without regret
- …
phrases
- expression of regret
- a matter for regret
- a matter of regret
- …
See full entry
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French regreter ‘bewail (the dead)’.