regret

1 of 2

verb

re·​gret ri-ˈgret How to pronounce regret (audio)
regretted; regretting

transitive verb

1
a
: to mourn the loss or death of
b
: to miss very much
2
: to be very sorry for
regrets his mistakes

intransitive verb

: to experience regret
regretter noun

regret

2 of 2

noun

1
: sorrow aroused by circumstances beyond one's control or power to repair
2
a
: an expression of distressing emotion (such as sorrow)
b
regrets plural : a note politely declining an invitation
Choose the Right Synonym for regret

sorrow, grief, anguish, woe, regret mean distress of mind.

sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

Examples of regret in a Sentence

Verb Don't say anything you might regret later. I deeply regret what I said. She does not regret leaving him. He regrets not traveling more when he was younger. He says he doesn't regret anything that he's done in his life. Noun She has no regrets about leaving him. My greatest regret is not going to college. To my regret, I never visited Europe. It is with deep regret that he is announcing his resignation. My coworker gives her regrets for not being able to attend the meeting.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Oklahoma City has normally been dominant in making teams regret turning the ball over, but the Thunder seemed off against Indiana. Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025 The 15 Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2025, According to Goodreads Users — From Taylor Jenkins Reid to R.F. Kuang of 05 'Far and Away' by Amy Poeppel Amy Poeppel’s Far and Away follows two married women who decide to swap houses and soon regret it. Rachel Flynn, People.com, 6 June 2025
Noun
His ability to write across the ensemble turns the family into an unforgettable organism, pulsing with sadness and regret and a small, late-breaking surge of scrappy resilience. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 June 2025 But with time, the actor has learned to communicate decades of regret and the darkest emotional headspace with barely a flicker of his face. David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for regret

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English regretten, from Anglo-French regreter, from re- + -greter (perhaps of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse grāta to weep) — more at greet

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of regret was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Regret.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regret. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

regret

1 of 2 verb
re·​gret ri-ˈgret How to pronounce regret (audio)
regretted; regretting
1
a
: to mourn the loss or death of
b
: to miss very much
2
: to be keenly sorry for
3
: to experience regret

regret

2 of 2 noun
1
: sorrow aroused by events beyond one's control
2
a
: an expression of sorrow or disappointment
b
plural : a note politely turning down an invitation
regretful adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on regret

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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