Meaning

(transitive) To forgive; to pardon; to overlook..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To forgive; to pardon; to overlook.
2. (transitive) To allow to leave, or release from any obligation.
3. (transitive) To provide an excuse for; to justify.
4. To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.
5. (countable, uncountable) An explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault.
6. (law) A defense to a criminal or civil charge wherein the accused party admits to doing acts for which legal consequences would normally be appropriate, but asserts that special circumstances relieve that party of culpability for having done those acts.
7. (often with preceding negative adjective, especially sorry, poor, or lame) An example of something that is substandard or of inferior quality.

Example Sentences

I excused him his transgressions.

Yet his Nature / In that’s no Changeling, and I muſt excuſe / What cannot be amended.

If they say that he did sin in doing this, then they must at the same time acknowledge that a man's persuasion that a thing is a duty will not excuse him from guilt in practising it

May I be excused from the table?

I excused myself from the proceedings to think over what I'd heard.

You know he shouldn't have done it, so don't try to excuse his behavior!

They cannot be excusyd By reason nor by law; […]

Agayne / thynke ye that we excuſe oure ſelves? we ſpeake in Chriſt in the ſight of God. But we do all thyngꝭ dearly beloved for youre edifyinge.

Word Forms

• excuses
• excusing
• excused

Synonyms for excuse

Antonyms for excuse

Related Words

When Should You Use Excuse?

Use excuse when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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