Definitions for regret
rɪˈgrɛtre·gret

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. sorrow, regret, rue, ruefulnessverb

   sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment

   "he drank to drown his sorrows"; "he wrote a note expressing his regret"; "to his rue, the error cost him the game"

2. repent, regret, rueverb

   feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about

3. regretverb

   feel sad about the loss or absence of

4. regretverb

   decline formally or politely

   "I regret I can't come to the party"

5. regretverb

   express with regret

   "I regret to say that you did not gain admission to Harvard"

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. regretnoun

   The instance of such an emotion.

   Etymology: From regretten, from regreter, regrater, from re- + , , from Old , and Old , from greutanan, from ghrew-, equivalent to . Cognate with grazan, grætan, greotan, gráta,
   0332
   0342
   0334
   0344
   0330
   033D. More at greet.

2. regretverb

   To feel sorry about (a thing that has happened), afterthink: to wish that a thing had not happened, that something else had happened instead.

   He regretted his words.

   Etymology: From regretten, from regreter, regrater, from re- + , , from Old , and Old , from greutanan, from ghrew-, equivalent to . Cognate with grazan, grætan, greotan, gráta,
   0332
   0342
   0334
   0344
   0330
   033D. More at greet.

3. regretverb

   To feel sorry about (any thing).

   I regret that I have to do this, but I don't have a choice.

   Etymology: From regretten, from regreter, regrater, from re- + , , from Old , and Old , from greutanan, from ghrew-, equivalent to . Cognate with grazan, grætan, greotan, gráta,
   0332
   0342
   0334
   0344
   0330
   033D. More at greet.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Regret

   pain of mind on account of something done or experienced in the past, with a wish that it had been different; a looking back with dissatisfaction or with longing; grief; sorrow; especially, a mourning on account of the loss of some joy, advantage, or satisfaction

   Etymology: [F. regretter, OF. regreter; L. pref. re- re- + a word of Teutonic origin; cf. Goth. grtan to weep, Icel. grta. See Greet to lament.]

2. Regret

   dislike; aversion

   Etymology: [F. regretter, OF. regreter; L. pref. re- re- + a word of Teutonic origin; cf. Goth. grtan to weep, Icel. grta. See Greet to lament.]

3. Regretverb

   to experience regret on account of; to lose or miss with a sense of regret; to feel sorrow or dissatisfaction on account of (the happening or the loss of something); as, to regret an error; to regret lost opportunities or friends

   Etymology: [F. regretter, OF. regreter; L. pref. re- re- + a word of Teutonic origin; cf. Goth. grtan to weep, Icel. grta. See Greet to lament.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Regret

   Regret was a famous American thoroughbred racehorse and the first of three fillies to ever win the Kentucky Derby.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Regret

   rē-gret′, v.t. to grieve at: to remember with sorrow:—pr.p. regret′ting; pa.t. and pa.p. regret′ted.—n. sorrow for anything: concern: remorse: a written expression of regret.—adj. Regret′ful, full of regret.—adv. Regret′fully.—adj. Regret′table.—adv. Regret′tably. [O. Fr. regrater, to desire, prob. from L. re-, again, and an Old Low Ger. form, appearing in A.S. grǽtan, Goth. gretan, to weep, Scot. greet. Others explain as from L. re-, in neg. sense, and gratus, pleasing.]

Matched Categories

1. • Feel
   • Inform
   • Miss
   • Refuse

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'regret' in Verbs Frequency: #786

How to pronounce regret?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say regret in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of regret in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of regret in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of regret in a Sentence

1. Christine Sarkis:

   A glass of wine with dinner on an international flight? Reasonable (especially if you're also drinking a healthy amount of water). Three vodka tonics in quick succession on a cross-country flight? Recipe for regret.

2. Steve Scalise:

   One of the many groups that I spoke to regarding this critical legislation was a group whose views I wholeheartedly condemn. It was a mistake I regret.

3. Deodatta V. Shenai-Khatkhate:

   No matter how others treat you, always be nice to people who touch your life. The only words you will regret later in life, besides the ones you had left unspoken, will be the words that you intentionally used to hurt others. Time and Words never come back, so use them carefully, always treating people with dignity and respect.

4. Arthur Marx:

   So. The time has come for me to get my kite flying, stretch out in the sun, kick off my shoes, and speak my piece. 'The days of struggle are over,' I should be able to say. 'I can look back now and tell myself I don't have a single regret.' But I do. Many years ago a very wise man named Bernard Baruch took me aside and put his arm around my shoulder. 'Harpo, my boy,' he said, 'I'm going to give you three pieces of advice, three things you should always remember.' My heart jumped and I glowed with expectation. I was going to hear the magic password to a rich, full life from the master himself. 'Yes, sir' I said. And he told me the three things. I regret that I've forgotten what they were.

5. Emeasoba George:

   If/when you are caught up in worries/regrets. You are likely to lose sight of what the future could/has to offer you. So, worry/regret over nothing.

Popularity rank by frequency of use