APOLOGISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does apologise mean? 

• APOLOGISE (verb)
  The verb APOLOGISE has 2 senses:

1. defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning

2. acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing

  Familiarity information: APOLOGISE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• APOLOGISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they apologise    ... he / she / it apologises   
Past simple: apologised   
Past participle: apologised   
-ing form: apologising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

apologise; apologize; excuse; rationalise; rationalize

Context example:

he rationalized his lack of success

Hypernyms (to "apologise" is one way to...):

defend; fend for; support (argue or speak in defense of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "apologise"):

color; colour; gloss (give a deceptive explanation or excuse for)

plead (offer as an excuse or plea)

extenuate; mitigate; palliate (lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

apology (an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone)

apology (a formal written defense of something you believe in strongly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

apologise; apologize

Context example:

He apologized for the many typoes

"Apologise" entails doing...:

acknowledge; admit (declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Somebody ----s to somebody

Derivation:

apology (an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone)

 Context examples 

Be so kind as to apologise for us to Miss Darcy.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

When I apologised and was concerned about it, she laughed and petted me, and said she did not even feel it.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Thank you, sir; I am sorry to give—Oh, no need to apologise!

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

And now I must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I have done him.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He apologised for having disturbed me so late, saying that it was nearly one o’clock.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I don’t know what passed between the poor dad and him after that, but the dad came to me next day and asked me whether I would mind apologising to Hudson.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He came in with eagerness, appeared to see and think only of her, apologised for his stay, was grieved to have kept her waiting, and anxious to get her away without further loss of time and before the rain increased; and in another moment they walked off together, her arm under his, a gentle and embarrassed glance, and a Good morning to you! being all that she had time for, as she passed away.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

After a few whispers, indeed, which placed it beyond a guess, Mrs. Elton, speaking louder, said, Yes, here I am, my good friend; and here I have been so long, that anywhere else I should think it necessary to apologise; but, the truth is, that I am waiting for my lord and master.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He had met Mrs. Jennings at the door in her way to the carriage, as he came to leave his farewell card; and she, after apologising for not returning herself, had obliged him to enter, by saying that Miss Dashwood was above, and wanted to speak with him on very particular business.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

He seemed astonished too on finding her alone, and apologised for his intrusion by letting her know that he had understood all the ladies were to be within.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)