regret

1 of 2

verb

re·​gret ri-ˈgret How to pronounce regret (audio)
regretted; regretting

transitive verb

1
a
: to mourn the loss or death of
b
: to miss very much
2
: to be very sorry for
regrets his mistakes

intransitive verb

: to experience regret
regretter noun

regret

2 of 2

noun

1
: sorrow aroused by circumstances beyond one's control or power to repair
2
a
: an expression of distressing emotion (such as sorrow)
b
regrets plural : a note politely declining an invitation
Choose the Right Synonym for regret

sorrow, grief, anguish, woe, regret mean distress of mind.

sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

Examples of regret in a Sentence

Verb Don't say anything you might regret later. I deeply regret what I said. She does not regret leaving him. He regrets not traveling more when he was younger. He says he doesn't regret anything that he's done in his life. Noun She has no regrets about leaving him. My greatest regret is not going to college. To my regret, I never visited Europe. It is with deep regret that he is announcing his resignation. My coworker gives her regrets for not being able to attend the meeting.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Worryingly, the survey also concluded that the average amount of debt that Americans get to visit Disney parks comes to $1,690 and 41% of them regretted taking it out. Caroline Reid, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Share [Findings] Scientists trained subjects to exercise control over a single neuron, linked the hippocampus to regret, and concluded that humans smell in stereo. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
Be ready to discuss the aforementioned differences—without judgment or regret. Mark Travers, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 Another study published Monday in the journal JAMA Pediatrics reported high levels of satisfaction and low levels of regret among more than 220 young people who had accessed puberty blockers and hormone therapy as kids and teens. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for regret 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'regret.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English regretten, from Anglo-French regreter, from re- + -greter (perhaps of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse grāta to weep) — more at greet

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of regret was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near regret

Cite this Entry

“Regret.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regret. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

regret

1 of 2 verb
re·​gret ri-ˈgret How to pronounce regret (audio)
regretted; regretting
1
a
: to mourn the loss or death of
b
: to miss very much
2
: to be keenly sorry for
3
: to experience regret

regret

2 of 2 noun
1
: sorrow aroused by events beyond one's control
2
a
: an expression of sorrow or disappointment
b
plural : a note politely turning down an invitation
regretful adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on regret

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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