regret

English translation unavailable for regret.

regret

US /rɪˈɡret/ 
UK /rɪˈɡret/ 

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

regret

I. regret W3 /rɪˈɡret/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle regretted, present participle regretting) [transitive]
[Word Family: adverb: regrettably, regretfully; adjective: regrettable, regretful; verb: regret; noun: regret]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: regreter]
1. to feel sorry about something you have done and wish you had not done it:
Don’t do anything you might regret.
regret doing something
I regret leaving school so young.
regret (that)
He was beginning to regret that he’d come along.
2. [not in progressive] formal used in official letters or statements when saying that you are sorry or sad about something:
We regret any inconvenience caused to our customers.
regret (that)
I regret that I will be unable to attend.
regret to say/inform/tell
I regret to inform you that your contract will not be renewed.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
deeply/greatly I deeply regretted what had happened.
bitterly (=with a feeling of great sadness) I bitterly regretted my decision to leave.
sincerely The airline sincerely regrets any delays to passengers.
very much We very much regret that there will be job losses.
instantly/immediately ‘No,’ she blurted out, instantly regretting her response.
■ phrases
live to regret something (=regret it in the future) If you don’t go, you may live to regret it.
II. regret2 BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: adverb: regrettably, regretfully; adjective: regrettable, regretful; verb: regret; noun: regret]
1. [countable usually plural, uncountable] sadness that you feel about something, especially because you wish it had not happened
regret about
I have no regrets about leaving.
great/deep regret
She has already expressed deep regret for what happened.
with regret
I decided with some regret that it was time to move on.
It is with great regret that I must decline your offer.
to sb’s regret
I lost touch with her, much to my regret.
2. give/send your regrets formal to say that you are unable to go to a meeting, accept an invitation etc:
My father was ill and had to send his regrets.

COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
great/deep regret I accepted his resignation with great regret.
bitter regret (=when you feel sad and angry) To the bitter regret of his party, he refused to call an election.
sb’s biggest regret Her biggest regret was not having children.
sb’s only regret My only regret is that my parents did not live to see this day.
■ verbs
have regrets I have absolutely no regrets.
express regret The President expressed his regret at the deaths.
■ phrases
a pang/twinge/stab of regret literary (=a sudden short feeling of regret) Kate watched her go with a pang of regret.

THESAURUS
guilt the feeling you have when you have done something you know is wrong: Divorce often leaves people with feelings of guilt.
shame the feeling of being guilty or embarrassed that you have after doing something that is wrong, when you feel you have lost people’s respect: I was too scared to help him, and I was filled with shame.
regret a feeling of sadness about something, especially because you wish it had not happened: Kate watched her go with a pang of regret.
remorse a strong feeling of being sorry for doing something very bad: a murderer who showed no remorse
contrition formal a feeling of being guilty and sorry for something wrong that you have done: The company CEO expressed contrition for the errors that led to the crash. | He sounded full of contrition. | They wanted to perform some kind of act of contrition (=do something that shows you feel sorry for something ).
penitence formal a feeling of being sorry for something that you have done wrong, when you do not intend to do it again: He expressed genuine penitence at the harm he had done her. | a period of reflection and penitence
conscience the part of your mind that tells you whether what you are doing is morally right or wrong: My conscience has been troubling me ever since.
 

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

regret

 

re·gret [regret regrets regretted regretting] verb, noun   [rɪˈɡret]    [rɪˈɡret]

verb (-tt-)
1. to feel sorry about sth you have done or about sth that you have not been able to do
~ sth If you don't do it now, you'll only regret it.
The decision could be one he lives to regret.
‘I've had a wonderful life,’ she said, ‘I don't regret a thing.’
She regretted the words the moment they were out of her mouth.
~ doing sth He bitterly regretted ever having mentioned it.
~ what, how, etc… I deeply regret what I said.

~ that… I regret that I never got to meet him in person.

2. (formal) used to say in a polite or formal way that you are sorry or sad about a situation
~ sth The airline regrets any inconvenience.
~ that… I regret that I am unable to accept your kind invitation.
~ to do sth We regret to inform you that your application has not been successful.
it is regretted that… It is to be regretted that so many young people leave school without qualifications.
Verb forms:

 
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French regreter ‘bewail (the dead)’.  
Thesaurus:
regret verb T, I (formal, especially written)
The airline regrets any inconvenience.
apologize|especially BrE, formal, spoken beg sb's pardon
regret/apologize that…
apologize/beg sb's pardon for sth
apologize/beg sb's pardon if…
Regret or beg sb's pardon? Regret is used in writing and in formal announcements, especially on behalf of a company or organization; beg sb's pardon is also formal but it is more personal, used by an individual speaking to another individual.  
Example Bank:
I immediately regretted not asking for his name and address.
It was a decision she would soon regret.
Pierre told them some things he later regretted telling.
She knew that she would live to regret this decision.
The president said that his country deeply regretted the incident.
‘I've had a wonderful life,’ she said, ‘I don't regret a thing.’
If you don't do it now, you'll only regret it.
It is to be regretted that so many young people leave school without qualifications.

The decision could be one he lives to regret.

 

noun uncountable, countable
a feeling of sadness or disappointment that you have because of sth that has happened or sth that you have done or not done
It is with great regret that I accept your resignation.
She expressed her regret at the decision.
a pang/twinge of regret
I have no regrets about leaving Newcastle (= I do not feel sorry about it).
What is your greatest regret (= the thing that you are most sorry about doing or not doing)?
He gave up teaching in 2009, much to the regret of his students.  
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French regreter ‘bewail (the dead)’.  
Thesaurus:
regret noun
1. U, C
He gave up teaching in 2007, much to the regret of his students.
disappointmentsadnessunhappinessgrief|formal sorrow|literary melancholy
Opp: satisfaction, Opp: happiness
regret/disappointment/sadness/unhappiness/grief/sorrow/melancholy at/about/over sth
regret/sadness/grief/sorrow for sth
to your regret/disappointment/grief/sorrow
with regret/sorrow/sadness
2. U, C
She expressed deep regret at the incident.
remorseshameguilt|formal, especially religion repentance
Opp: pride
regret/remorse/shame/guilt at sth
regret/remorse/repentance for sth
feel (no) regret/remorse/shame/guilt 
Example Bank:
Her biggest regret was that she had never had children.
I have absolutely no regrets about resigning.
I never learned to play an instrument and that's a matter of some regret.
It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Mr Fred Fisher.
She enjoyed living alone, but felt a tiny pang of regret for her mother's cooking.
She expressed deep regret at the incident.
She showed no regret about leaving her country.
She thought of them without regret.
The police offered no expression of regret at his wrongful arrest.
To my regret, I lost touch with her years ago.
my sincere regret at what has happened
He gave up teaching in 2007, much to the regret of his students.
James felt a twinge of regret at missing the party.

What is your greatest regret?

 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

regret

regret /rɪˈgret/
noun [C or U]
a feeling of sadness about something sad or wrong or about a mistake that you have made, and a wish that it could have been different and better:
I left school at 16, but I've had a great life and I have no regrets.
The manager expressed deep regret at/for the number of staff reductions.
We think, much to our regret (= and we regret this very much), that we will not be able to visit you next year.

regret /rɪˈgret/
verb [T] -tt-
to feel regret:
Is there anything you've done in your life that you regret?
[+ ing form of verb] I have always regretted not having studied harder at school.
[+ (that)] FORMAL The council regrets (that) the money to subsidise the youth club is no longer available.
[+ to infinitive] FORMAL British Airways regret to announce the cancellation of flight BA205 to Madrid.

regretful /rɪˈgret.fəl/
adjective
expressing regret:
a regretful goodbye/glance/smile

regretfully /rɪˈgret.fəl.i/
adverb

regrettable /rɪˈgret.ə.bļ/ US /-ˈgreţ-/
adjective FORMAL
making you feel sad and sorry about something:
a most/deeply regrettable mistake

regrettably /rɪˈgret.ə.bli/ US /-ˈgreţ-/
adverb

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

regret

[rɪgre̱t]
 
 regrets, regretting, regretted
 1) VERB If you regret something that you have done, you wish that you had not done it.
  [V n] I simply gave in to him, and I've regretted it ever since...
  [V that] Ellis seemed to be regretting that he had asked the question...
  [V -ing] Five years later she regrets having given up her home.
 2) N-VAR Regret is a feeling of sadness or disappointment, which is caused by something that has happened or something that you have done or not done.
  My great regret in life is that I didn't bring home the America's Cup...
  Lillee said he had no regrets about retiring.
 3) VERB (politeness) You can say that you regret something as a polite way of saying that you are sorry about it. You use expressions such as I regret to say or I regret to inform you to show that you are sorry about something.
  [V n] `I very much regret the injuries he sustained,' he said...
  [V that] I regret that the United States has added its voice to such protests...
  [V to-inf] Her lack of co-operation is nothing new, I regret to say...
  [V to-inf] I regret to inform you he died as a consequence of his injuries.
 4) N-UNCOUNT If someone expresses regret about something, they say that they are sorry about it. [FORMAL]
  He expressed great regret and said that surgeons would attempt to reverse the operation...
  President Aquino says she has accepted his resignation with regret.

Perseverance

  1. If you intend to do something do you stick to it for a decent period of time?
  2. Is perseverance one of your good characters?
  3. Do you wish you were more hard working?
  4. Can you name some people who have shown perseverance?
  5. Is there anything you have given up and now you regret it?
  6. What can you do to improve your perseverance?
  7. Do you believe perseverance is innate or acquired?
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