apologise
Explanation of apologise at your level:
When you do something wrong, you say apologise. It means you say 'I am sorry.' You use it to be kind to your friends. If you break a toy, you should apologise to your friend. It is a good word to know!
To apologise is to tell someone you are sorry for a mistake. You can say, 'I apologise for being late.' It is a polite way to fix a problem. People will like you more if you know how to say sorry when you are wrong.
Using apologise is very common in daily life. It is more formal than saying 'sorry.' You might use it at work or school. For example, 'I must apologise for the confusion.' It shows that you respect the other person and want to move on from the mistake.
In professional contexts, apologise is the standard term for admitting fault. It carries more weight than a casual 'sorry.' When writing formal letters, use 'I would like to apologise' to sound professional. It is essential for maintaining good relationships in both business and social settings.
The verb apologise can sometimes be used to soften a statement or to acknowledge a shortcoming in a complex argument. It is not merely about regret; it is about taking accountability. In academic or high-stakes environments, the way you apologise can influence how your peers perceive your integrity and maturity.
Historically, apologise has moved from a defensive legal stance to a gesture of social grace. At the C2 level, you understand the nuance between a sincere apology and a performative one. You might use it in literary analysis to discuss a character's growth or in diplomatic contexts where the choice of words is critical to maintaining peace and mutual respect.
apologise in 30 Seconds
- Apologise is a verb meaning to say sorry.
- It is more formal than just saying sorry.
- It is spelled with an 's' in UK and 'z' in US.
- It is best used with 'to' and 'for'.
When you apologise, you are essentially telling someone that you realize you made a mistake and that you feel bad about the impact of your actions. It is a vital social tool that helps mend relationships and clear the air after a disagreement.
Think of it as a bridge back to harmony. Whether you accidentally bumped into someone or forgot an important deadline, using this word shows that you take responsibility for your choices. It is not just about saying the words; it is about showing sincerity and a desire to make things right again.
The word apologise has a fascinating history rooted in Ancient Greek. It comes from the Greek word apologia, which meant a 'speaking in defense' or a formal argument in a court of law.
Back then, it wasn't about saying 'I'm sorry' in the way we do now. Instead, it was about justifying your actions or explaining your position. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from a legal defense to a moral admission of wrongdoing. By the time it entered English via French, it had evolved into the humble act of asking for forgiveness we recognize today.
You will use apologise in both formal and informal settings, though it sounds slightly more professional than just saying 'sorry.' In a business email, you might write, 'I would like to apologise for the delay,' which sounds polished and respectful.
Commonly, we use the preposition to when mentioning the person we offended, and for when describing the mistake itself. For example, 'I apologised to my boss for the error.' It is a versatile verb that fits almost any situation where an admission of fault is required.
While the word itself is straightforward, it appears in several idiomatic contexts. 'Apologise profusely' is a common expression meaning to say sorry many times or with great intensity. 'A non-apology apology' refers to a statement that sounds like an apology but doesn't actually admit any fault.
You might also hear 'I owe you an apology,' which is a way of initiating a conversation about a past mistake. Using these expressions helps you sound more natural and emotionally intelligent when navigating tricky social waters.
In British English, we spell it with an 's' (apologise), while in American English, it is spelled with a 'z' (apologize). Both are correct depending on your region! The stress falls on the second syllable: a-POL-o-gise.
It is a regular verb, so the past tense is simply apologised. It rhymes with words like 'recognize' or 'authorize.' Remember that it is an intransitive verb, meaning it usually needs a preposition like 'to' or 'for' to connect to the object of the sentence.
Fun Fact
It used to mean a legal defense, not an admission of guilt.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'uh-POLL-uh-jize'.
Sounds like 'uh-PAHL-uh-jize'.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'g' as a hard 'g'
- Stress on the first syllable
- Dropping the final 'z' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to understand.
Simple to use.
Commonly used.
Clear pronunciation.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Gerunds after prepositions
Apologise for doing.
Modal verbs
I must apologise.
Infinitive patterns
I want to apologise.
Examples by Level
I apologise.
I say sorry.
Simple subject-verb.
Please apologise to her.
Tell her you are sorry.
Imperative.
He will apologise.
He is going to say sorry.
Future tense.
I must apologise.
I have to say sorry.
Modal verb.
Did you apologise?
Did you say sorry?
Question form.
She did not apologise.
She didn't say sorry.
Negative past.
We should apologise.
It is good to say sorry.
Advice.
I want to apologise.
I want to say sorry.
Infinitive.
I want to apologise for my mistake.
Please apologise to your teacher.
He apologised for being late.
They decided to apologise to the group.
She didn't apologise for the accident.
I am going to apologise today.
Why didn't you apologise?
We must apologise for the noise.
I would like to apologise for the inconvenience.
He apologised profusely for forgetting the date.
It is never too late to apologise.
She felt she had to apologise for her behavior.
They were forced to apologise publicly.
I apologise if I offended you.
He didn't know how to apologise properly.
We apologise for the technical difficulties.
She offered to apologise for the misunderstanding.
The company had to apologise for the faulty product.
He refused to apologise for his controversial remarks.
I apologise for the short notice regarding this meeting.
It takes courage to apologise when you are wrong.
They publicly apologised for their past actions.
I apologise for any confusion my email may have caused.
She accepted his apology after he apologised sincerely.
The candidate was asked to apologise for his previous statements.
He felt compelled to apologise, though he disagreed with the criticism.
The institution issued a statement to apologise for the historical oversight.
I apologise for the abrupt nature of my departure.
She could not bring herself to apologise for standing up for her beliefs.
The apology was seen as insincere because he didn't apologise for the core issue.
It is a grave matter that requires one to apologise without reservation.
They deemed it necessary to apologise to restore their reputation.
The diplomat sought to apologise for the breach of protocol.
He was reluctant to apologise, fearing it would be seen as an admission of guilt.
The author's letter serves to apologise for the inaccuracies in the manuscript.
One must apologise with humility to truly mend the bridge.
The apology was a mere formality; he did not truly apologise in his heart.
He was forced to apologise, which only deepened his resentment.
The act of choosing to apologise is a testament to one's character.
She did not apologise for her success, despite the pressure to do so.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"I owe you an apology"
Admitting you were wrong.
I owe you an apology for what I said.
neutral"A non-apology"
A fake apology.
That was a classic non-apology.
casual"Apologise to the wind"
Apologizing when no one is listening.
He was just apologising to the wind.
literary"Make a clean breast of it"
Confessing and apologizing.
He finally made a clean breast of it.
idiomatic"Eat humble pie"
Admitting you are wrong.
He had to eat humble pie after being proven wrong.
idiomatic"Say sorry"
To express regret.
Just say sorry and move on.
neutralEasily Confused
Related to apologies.
Forgive is the reaction to an apology.
I apologised, and he forgave me.
Both express sadness.
Regret is a feeling; apologise is an action.
I regret my actions and I apologise.
Both used to get out of trouble.
Excuse is a reason; apologise is an admission.
Don't make excuses, just apologise.
Same meaning.
Sorry is an adjective; apologise is a verb.
I am sorry. I apologise.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + apologise + to + person
I apologise to you.
Subject + apologise + for + noun
I apologise for the delay.
Subject + apologise + for + verb-ing
I apologise for being late.
Subject + would like to + apologise
I would like to apologise.
Subject + was forced to + apologise
He was forced to apologise.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8/10
Formality Scale
Tips
Memory Palace
Native Speakers
Cultural Insight
Grammar Shortcut
Say It Right
Don't Make This Mistake
Did You Know?
Study Smart
Professionalism
Tone Check
Memorize It
Mnemonic
A-POL-o-gise: A POLite person GIVES an apology.
Visual Association
Imagine someone handing a flower to a person they bumped into.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to apologise for something small today!
Word Origin
Greek
Original meaning: A speech in defense.
Cultural Context
Some cultures find over-apologizing a sign of weakness, while others see it as politeness.
In the UK, people apologise very frequently, even for things that aren't their fault.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- I apologise for the delay
- Please accept my apology
- I apologise for the error
At school
- I apologise for being late
- I apologise for not finishing
- I apologise for the noise
Travel
- I apologise for the inconvenience
- I apologise for the wait
- I apologise for the confusion
Social
- I apologise for what I said
- I apologise for missing the party
- I apologise for the misunderstanding
Conversation Starters
"When was the last time you had to apologise?"
"Do you think people apologise enough?"
"What makes a good apology?"
"Is it hard for you to apologise?"
"Have you ever received a bad apology?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you apologised.
Why is it important to apologise?
Describe the perfect apology.
How do you feel after you apologise?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsTest Yourself
I want to ___ for the mistake.
The verb meaning to say sorry is apologise.
Which sentence is correct?
We use 'to' for the person.
Apologise is a noun.
It is a verb.
Word
Meaning
Matching the word to its meaning.
I apologise for my actions.
He ___ profusely for the error.
Past tense is needed.
What is a synonym for apologise?
Atone means to make amends.
Apologise is spelled with a 'z' in British English.
It is spelled with an 's'.
She was compelled to apologise.
Which is a non-apology?
It shifts blame to the listener's feelings.
Score: /10
Summary
To apologise is to take responsibility for your actions and show respect to others.
- Apologise is a verb meaning to say sorry.
- It is more formal than just saying sorry.
- It is spelled with an 's' in UK and 'z' in US.
- It is best used with 'to' and 'for'.
