Skip to main content
to apologize for

to apologize for

484 1.8
To say sorry for something you did that hurt or upset someone
  • phrasal verb
  • /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪz fɔr/
  • US
translation icon : pedir disculpas por
  • I apologize for being away so long.
  • apologize for the mistake
  • need to apologize for
  • never apologize for

The next thing that I need to apologize for is this.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • I deeply, with all of my heart apologize for cutting you off.

  • I apologize for our methods in getting you here.

  • And I, I want to apologize for not making this clear.

  • I do apologize for everything that went on because of this.

  • No, I just wanted to apologize for the other night.

  • Well, I would like to formally apologize for a video that was all over the place.

  • We apologize for any inconvenience.

  • The editorial staff apologizes for the mistake and any confusion resulting from it.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Uh, I'd like to apologize for my abrupt departure.

  • I want to apologize for my mistake during the presentation.

Synonyms

to apologize
vsto apologize for
  • US
1.7

To say sorry to someone when you feel you did something wrong

is the phrase that links regret to a specific action
to repent
vsto apologize for
91 4.9

To feel very sorry and want to make things right

express regret or say sorry outwardly rather than only feeling remorse

How Apologetic

to repent
91 4.9
to apologize for
  • US
484 1.8

Surface Forms

apologize for infinitive
apologise for infinitive
apologizing for present participle
apologising for present participle
apologizes for third person singular
apologises for third person singular

Morphology

apologize + for

The meaning 'to express regret for something' is directly composed from 'apologize' (to express regret) plus the preposition 'for' which marks the reason or target of the apology. This is a regular verb + preposition construction that follows standard English compositional patterns and is cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent words will understand it.

Etymology

Apologize for comes from a long-ago word for a short speech used to explain yourself when you had done something wrong. So apologize for means 'to say sorry for' a particular action.