apologize
Americanverb (used without object)
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to offer an apology or excuse for some fault, insult, failure, or injury.
He apologized for accusing her falsely.
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to make a formal defense in speech or writing.
verb
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to express or make an apology; acknowledge failings or faults
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to make a formal defence in speech or writing
Usage
Spelling tips for apologize The word apologize is hard to spell because it is pronounced like it might be spelled with two as and a j [ uh-pol-uh-jahyz ]. To make it even more confusing, apologize is the American English spelling of the word. In British English, it is spelled with an s: apologise.How to spell apologize: The easiest way to remember how to spell apologize is to break it into three parts: apo - log - ize. The suffix -ize is used to describe kinds of behavior. You can also pronounce it this way in your head to help the spelling stick.
Other Word Forms
- apologizer noun
- reapologize verb (used with object)
- unapologizing noun
Etymology
Origin of apologize
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I wrote Greenspan that I had made his difficult job harder and apologized.
From Barron's
A third group was told that MTV had apologized and urged participants to share their concerns.
Long then apologized to senators during his confirmation hearing, saying the comment was “totally inappropriate.”
He apologized to Maggie and returned her letter denying the engagement.
From Literature
You’ll frequently hear Sidney apologize for not being in New York.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
