apologise
/ə'pɔlədʤaiz/ Cách viết khác : (apologise) /ə'pɔlədʤaiz/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (intransitive):
- To express regret for something one has done wrong, or for causing inconvenience or hurt. It involves acknowledging fault or responsibility.
- To make a formal defense or justification for a belief, idea, or cause (a formal, less common usage).
Usage
- The verb "apologise" (also spelled "apologize") is used when someone admits a mistake or offense and expresses regret to the affected person or people.
- It is typically followed by the preposition "to" (the person) and "for" (the reason).
- It can be used in both personal and formal contexts.
Examples
- Basic Usage:
- I must apologise for my mistake.
- She apologised to her friend for forgetting the meeting.
- The company apologised publicly for the error in their advertisement.
Advanced Usage
- "To apologise profusely": To apologise very sincerely and at length.
- He apologised profusely for the damage caused by his dog.
- "To have nothing to apologise for": Used to indicate that someone's actions were justified and no apology is necessary.
- You stood up for what was right; you have nothing to apologise for.
Variants and Related Words
- Apology (n): A regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure.
- He offered a sincere apology.
- Apologetic (adj): Showing or expressing an apology; regretful.
- She sent an apologetic email.
- Apologist (n): A person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial (related to the formal, defensive sense of "apologise").
- He was a noted apologist for the political movement.
Synonyms
- Say sorry: A more informal phrase with the same core meaning.
- Express regret: A more formal phrase.
- Make amends: Implies not just apologising but also taking action to correct the wrong.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
- Apologise for oneself: To give reasons or excuses for one's actions (often defensive).
- He spent ten minutes apologising for himself instead of just admitting the error.
Related Idioms
- "To eat humble pie": To make a humble apology and accept humiliation.
- After his argument was proven false, he had to eat humble pie and apologise.
Verb
- acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing
- I apologized for being late
- He apologized for the many typoes
- defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
- rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior
- he rationalized his lack of success