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
Plus, sorry to the folks who aspire to that Jane Austen type of love, but life doesn't always work out that way, okay?
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 13 June 2025
With Los Angeles production levels in a sorry state, underemployed workers are flocking to a format that’s faster, shorter, cheaper and quite literally overturns film and TV norms.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025
His trip ends up being a fascinating tour through the varied waterways and communities of the Great Lakes region, a deep dive (sorry) into the health-promoting powers of being in and around water—and also just an enjoyable and often funny read about a quirky and impressive trip.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 9 June 2025
Beyond the disappointment of watching the absurdity of this behavior is a call to action, which isn’t to complain about the president or lament the sorry state of our culture and politics.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sorry
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Jessica Wang, EW.com, 13 June 2025
With Los Angeles production levels in a sorry state, underemployed workers are flocking to a format that’s faster, shorter, cheaper and quite literally overturns film and TV norms.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025
His trip ends up being a fascinating tour through the varied waterways and communities of the Great Lakes region, a deep dive (sorry) into the health-promoting powers of being in and around water—and also just an enjoyable and often funny read about a quirky and impressive trip.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 9 June 2025
Beyond the disappointment of watching the absurdity of this behavior is a call to action, which isn’t to complain about the president or lament the sorry state of our culture and politics.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 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 18 Jun. 2025.
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