sorrier; sorriest
1
a
: feeling sorrow or sympathy
I'm so sorry for your loss.
We were very sorry to hear the news.
She felt sorry for him. [=she felt sympathy and concern for him because of his situation, problems, etc.]
He told me to stop feeling sorry for myself. [=to stop indulging in self-pity]
b
: feeling regret or penitence
He was sorry about what he had said.
"I wanted to apologize," she said, "for my abominable rudeness in laughing at you just now. It was idiotic of me and I don't know why I did it. I'm sorry."—
P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehouse"… I'm so sorry, but the tongs were too hot, and so I've made a mess," groaned poor Jo, regarding the little black pancakes with tears of regret.—Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May AlcottI am sorry we have ever differed, and extremely sorry I have ever given you offence.—Charles Dickens
—used to express polite regretCharles DickensI'm sorry, but I think you're wrong.
I'm sorry to interrupt you.
—used to introduce disappointing or bad news in a polite wayI'm sorry, but we won't be able to come.
—used as an apology for a minor fault or offenseOh, sorry—that was clumsy of me.
I'm late again. Sorry about that. [=I'm sorry; I apologize]
2
3
: inspiring sorrow, pity, scorn, or ridicule : pitiful
Their affairs were in a sorry state.
Lawrence blushed, and then smiled awkwardly. A man in love is a sorry spectacle.—Agatha Christie
Agatha ChristieIn view of the sorry treatment of the Native Americans of the US, it is time that their voice was heard a little more clearly in contemporary American society.—Tim Flannery
Tim Flannery… had been on her way to work when her rusted-out, … sorry excuse for a car … choked on its last drop of gasoline, then died.—Ingrid Law
Ingrid LawExamples of sorry in a Sentence
I'm sorry if I offended you.
She was sorry to hear about their divorce.
I'm sorry for your loss.
I'm sorry for saying that.
I'm sorry that I wasted your time.
What a sorry state of affairs we're in now.
That's the sorriest excuse I've heard.
Recent Examples on the Web
At the end of the day, Ohtani was pitching into the fourth inning for the first time since his second Tommy John surgery, so the Dodgers were likely playing it safe rather than sorry.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
Screenwriter Busch, who, gay and in his 30s, played the 16-year-old teenage girl Gidget — sorry, Chicklet — in his original off-Broadway stage show here plays the detective-in-drag investigating the murders.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 30 July 2025
It's spent roughly half of its life at full volume (sorry, neighbors), playing nearly every genre of music (except country, of course).
—Joe Salas
july 27, New Atlas, 27 July 2025
Glenn refused to let the Lions feel sorry for themselves despite the season-changing loss of superstar defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sorry
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
Screenwriter Busch, who, gay and in his 30s, played the 16-year-old teenage girl Gidget — sorry, Chicklet — in his original off-Broadway stage show here plays the detective-in-drag investigating the murders.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 30 July 2025
It's spent roughly half of its life at full volume (sorry, neighbors), playing nearly every genre of music (except country, of course).
—Joe Salas
july 27, New Atlas, 27 July 2025
Glenn refused to let the Lions feel sorry for themselves despite the season-changing loss of superstar defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sorry
Cite this Entry
“Sorry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sorry. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share