apologize


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Related to apologize: apologise

apologize

to offer an apology or excuse for some fault, insult, failure, or injury: You should apologize for being so insensitive.
Not to be confused with:
apologies – written or spoken expressions of regret: She will make apologies for her rudeness.; excuses or justifications, as for a cause or doctrine; vindications
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

a·pol·o·gize

 (ə-pŏl′ə-jīz′)
intr.v. a·pol·o·gized, a·pol·o·giz·ing, a·pol·o·giz·es
1. To make excuse for or regretful acknowledgment of a fault or offense.
2. To make a formal defense or justification in speech or writing.

a·pol′o·giz′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

apologize

(əˈpɒləˌdʒaɪz) or

apologise

vb (intr)
1. to express or make an apology; acknowledge failings or faults
2. to make a formal defence in speech or writing
aˈpoloˌgizer, aˈpoloˌgiser n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

a•pol•o•gize

(əˈpɒl əˌdʒaɪz)

v.i. -gized, -giz•ing.
to make an apology.
[1590–1600]
a•pol′o•giz`er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

apologize

1. 'apologize'

If you apologize to someone, you say you are sorry.

Afterwards George apologized to him personally.

Be Careful!
Apologize must be followed by to in sentences like these. Don't say, for example, 'George apologized him'.

If you apologize for something you have done, or apologize for something someone else has done, you say you are sorry about it.

Later, Brad apologized to Simon for his rudeness.
2. 'I apologize' and 'I'm sorry'

If you are sorry for something you have done, you can say I apologize. This is a formal use. In informal conversation, you are more likely to say I'm sorry or Sorry.

I apologize for being late.
Sorry I'm late.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

apologize


Past participle: apologized
Gerund: apologizing

Imperative
apologize
apologize
Present
I apologize
you apologize
he/she/it apologizes
we apologize
you apologize
they apologize
Preterite
I apologized
you apologized
he/she/it apologized
we apologized
you apologized
they apologized
Present Continuous
I am apologizing
you are apologizing
he/she/it is apologizing
we are apologizing
you are apologizing
they are apologizing
Present Perfect
I have apologized
you have apologized
he/she/it has apologized
we have apologized
you have apologized
they have apologized
Past Continuous
I was apologizing
you were apologizing
he/she/it was apologizing
we were apologizing
you were apologizing
they were apologizing
Past Perfect
I had apologized
you had apologized
he/she/it had apologized
we had apologized
you had apologized
they had apologized
Future
I will apologize
you will apologize
he/she/it will apologize
we will apologize
you will apologize
they will apologize
Future Perfect
I will have apologized
you will have apologized
he/she/it will have apologized
we will have apologized
you will have apologized
they will have apologized
Future Continuous
I will be apologizing
you will be apologizing
he/she/it will be apologizing
we will be apologizing
you will be apologizing
they will be apologizing
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been apologizing
you have been apologizing
he/she/it has been apologizing
we have been apologizing
you have been apologizing
they have been apologizing
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been apologizing
you will have been apologizing
he/she/it will have been apologizing
we will have been apologizing
you will have been apologizing
they will have been apologizing
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been apologizing
you had been apologizing
he/she/it had been apologizing
we had been apologizing
you had been apologizing
they had been apologizing
Conditional
I would apologize
you would apologize
he/she/it would apologize
we would apologize
you would apologize
they would apologize
Past Conditional
I would have apologized
you would have apologized
he/she/it would have apologized
we would have apologized
you would have apologized
they would have apologized
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Verb1.apologize - acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failingapologize - acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing; "I apologized for being late"; "He apologized for the many typoes"
2.apologize - defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"
colour, gloss, color - give a deceptive explanation or excuse for; "color a lie"
plead - offer as an excuse or plea; "She was pleading insanity"
defend, fend for, support - argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to strike"
extenuate, mitigate, palliate - lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of; "The circumstances extenuate the crime"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

apologize

verb say sorry, express regret, ask forgiveness, make an apology, beg pardon, say you are sorry He apologized to those who had been affected.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

apologize

verb
To support against arguments, attack, or criticism:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
omluvit se
undskylde
pyytää anteeksipuolustella
excuses’excusers'excuser
ispričatiispričati se
mentegetőzik
biîjast afsökunar
謝る詫びる
사과하다
atsiprašantisatsiprašinėjantatsiprašymasatsiprašytireiškiantis atsiprašymą
atvainoties
opravičiti se
be om ursäkt
ขอโทษ
xin lỗi

apologize

[əˈpɒlədʒaɪz] VIdisculparse, pedir perdón; (for absence etc) → presentar las excusas
there's no need to apologizeno hay de qué disculparse
I apologize!¡lo siento!
to apologize to sb (for sth)disculparse con algn (por algo)
he apologized for being latese disculpó por llegar tarde
to apologize for sbdisculparse or pedir perdón por algn
never apologize!disculpas, ¡nunca!
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

apologize

[əˈpɒlədʒaɪz] vis'excuser
I apologize → Je vous prie de m'excuser.
to apologize to sb → s'excuser auprès de qn
to apologize for sth → s'excuser de qch
He apologized for being late → Il s'est excusé de son retard.
to apologize for sth to sb, to apologize to sb for sth → s'excuser de qch auprès de qn, présenter des excuses à qn pour qch
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

apologize

visich entschuldigen (to bei); to apologize for somebody/somethingsich für jdn/etw entschuldigen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

apologize

[əˈpɒlədʒaɪz] vi to apologize (to sb for sth)scusarsi (con qn per or di qc), chiedere scusa (a qn per or di qc)
they apologized for being late → si sono scusati per il ritardo
there's no need to apologize → non è il caso di scusarsi
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

apologize,

apologise

(əˈpolədʒaiz) verb
to say that one is sorry, for having done something wrong, for a fault etc. I must apologize to her for my rudeness.
aˌpoloˈgetic (-ˈdʒetik) adjective
showing regret or saying one is sorry for having done something wrong etc. an apologetic letter.
aˌpoloˈgetically adverb
aˈpologyplural aˈpologies noun
Please accept my apology for not arriving on time; He made his apologies for not attending the meeting.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

apologize

يَعْتَذِرُ omluvit se undskylde entschuldigen (sich) ζητώ συγγνώμη disculparse pyytää anteeksi s’excuser ispričati se scusarsi 謝る 사과하다 verontschuldigen (zich) be om unnskyldning przeprosić pedir desculpas извиняться be om ursäkt ขอโทษ özür dilemek xin lỗi 道歉
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
References in classic literature ?
"And I tell you, Rostov, that you must apologize to the colonel!" said a tall, grizzly-haired staff captain, with enormous mustaches and many wrinkles on his large features, to Rostov who was crimson with excitement.
He may keep me on duty every day, or may place me under arrest, but no one can make me apologize, because if he, as commander of this regiment, thinks it beneath his dignity to give me satisfaction, then..."
But she'll stay up there until she's willing to apologize to Mrs.
It gives you a lovely, comfortable feeling to apologize and be forgiven, doesn't it?
I do not know how to apologize enough for this letter; I know it is taking so great a liberty.
AS a preface is the only place where an author can with propriety explain a purpose or apologize for shortcomings, I venture to avail myself of the privilege to make a statement for the benefit of my readers.
We apologize in due form: we are in despair, we entreat forgiveness for the unfortunate misunderstanding.
Now why did I apologize? I don't know, except for the same reason I punched 'm--I just had to."
"I think," said the Scarecrow, "that if I could talk with those Horners they would apologize to you, and then there would be no need to fight."
"I must apologize," the newcomer said, "for my intrusion.
I apologize for mentioning him, even in an accidental way.
No message came from Henry; perhaps he expected her to apologize. Now that she had time to think over her own tragedy, she was unrepentant.