Regret

Quick meaning: Regret is a verb meaning (more generally) To feel sorry about (any thing).

Meaning

(more generally) To feel sorry about (any thing).

More Meanings

1. (decision theory) The amount of avoidable loss that results from choosing the wrong action.
2. A person invited to an event who was unable to attend, but notified the organizer of this beforehand; a nonattendee.
3. To feel sorry about (a thing that has or has not happened), afterthink: to wish that a thing had not happened, that something else had happened instead.
4. Emotional pain 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.
5. (archaic, transitive) To miss; to feel the loss or absence of; to mourn.
6. (obsolete) Dislike; aversion.

Example Sentences

He regretted his words.

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

They said they regretted to inform us that the train would be late.

I don't regret enrolling in law, but I regret not studying some Chinese.

Word Forms

• regrets
• regretting
• regretted

Synonyms for regret

Depending on context, synonyms include rue, grieve, lament, aggrieve, besorrow, condole.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include ruefulness, repent, deplore, sorrow, lament, bemoan.

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