apologize
[əˈpɒləd͡ʒaɪz]
[əˈpɑləd͡ʒaɪz]
An apology is a way of saying sorry for doing something wrong or hurting someone's feelings.
When we apologize, we're usually trying to fix things that went wrong. For example, imagine you borrowed your friend's favorite book and accidentally broke it. Your friend might be really upset, so you would say "I'm so sorry I broke your book, can I replace it?" That way, you're showing that you care about what happened and are willing to make it right again.
How common is "apologize"?
Word apologize is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions
verb
(often followed by “for”) To make an apology or excuse; to acknowledge some fault or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends
Example: My correspondent apologized for not answering my letter.
Real examples of "apologize" in context
