Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To make excuse for or regretful acknowledgment of a fault or offense.
- intransitive verb To make a formal defense or justification in speech or writing.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To make an apology or defense; speak or write in favor of some person or thing; offer defensive arguments.
- To make an apology or excuse; acknowledge or express regret for a fault: followed by for: as, he apologized for his delay in replying.
- To make or write an apology for; defend.
- Also spelled
apologise .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- intransitive verb To make an apology or defense.
- intransitive verb To make an apology or excuse; to make acknowledgment of some fault or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends; -- with
for ;as , my correspondentapologized for not answering my letter. - transitive verb obsolete To defend.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb intransitive To make an
apology ordefence . - verb intransitive To make an apology or
excuse ; toacknowledge somefault oroffense , with expression ofregret for it, by way ofamends - verb intransitive To express regret that a certain event has occurred.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
- verb acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants, which represents about 80,000 families, said Iott's "failure to apologize is particularly shameful and desecrates the memory of all victims of the Nazis, Jew and non-Jew."
Democrats criticize GOP over House nominee who dressed as Nazi during battle reenactments Felicia Sonmez 2010
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The only dem to apologize is Obama to the world and that was not his right.
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The only person needing to apologize is the arresting officer.
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He didnt need to apologize until Palin apologize to wolves for shooting them from helicopter.
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The reason why Wilson had to apologize is because he disrespected the Office of the President of the United States by slandering him during a televised address to congress.
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September 10th, 2009 12: 12 am ET let John McCain apologize that old man likes it on his knees.
First on the Ticker: GOP heckler blasted by 2010 challenger 2009
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The same attitude that wants Obama to apologize is the same attitude that caused the white officer to arrest a black man in his own home.
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The same attitude that wants Obama to apologize is the same attitude that caused the white officer to arrest a black man in his own home.
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Sharron Angle's heartless comments, and her refusal to repudiate them and apologize is just further evidence that she's too extreme and dangerous to represent Nevadans in the U.S.
Autism Advocates Furious Over Angle's Health Care Comments The Huffington Post News Team 2010
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When the top of the second inning began, broadcaster Chip Caray said: We again apologize profusely for the technical difficulties we had back in Atlanta.
lampbane commented on the word apologize
"You tell me that you're sorry
Didn't think I'd turn around
And say
That it's too late to apologize
It's too late
I said it's too late to apologize
It's too late"
August 29, 2008