regret
B2Neutral; used in both formal and informal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To feel sad or sorry about something that has happened or been done, especially because it was a mistake.
Can refer to a feeling of sadness or disappointment about a past event, or the expression of such a feeling, often involving a sense of loss or missed opportunity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Functions as a transitive verb or a noun. Often implies reflection on past actions with a negative emotional response.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling; minor variations in phrasing or collocation usage.
Connotations
Similar emotional connotations in both variants, associated with remorse or disappointment.
Frequency
Equally common in British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
regret + noun (e.g., regret a decision)regret + that clause (e.g., regret that it happened)regret + gerund (e.g., regret leaving early)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “no regrets”
- “live to regret it”
- “regret at leisure”
- “eat one's heart out”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in formal communications for apologies or bad news, e.g., 'We regret to announce the closure.'
Academic
Discussed in fields like psychology or ethics, e.g., 'regret theory in behavioral economics.'
Everyday
Common in personal reflections, e.g., 'I regret skipping breakfast today.'
Technical
Rare in technical contexts; more relevant in social or emotional analyses.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I regret not attending the theatre performance.
American English
- I regret not going to the theater show.
adverb
British English
- Regrettably, the match was postponed due to rain.
American English
- Unfortunately, the game was canceled because of weather.
adjective
British English
- She had a regretful tone in her voice.
American English
- He wore a regretful expression after the game.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I regret my error.
- She regrets the lost key.
- They regret not saving money earlier.
- He regrets missing the bus.
- The company expressed regret over the data breach.
- I deeply regret my harsh words.
- Her principal regret was never learning a second language.
- Regret can influence future decision-making processes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'RE' (again) and 'GRET' (similar to 'grieve'), meaning to grieve over something repeatedly.
Conceptual Metaphor
Regret is often metaphorically viewed as a burden or weight that one carries from the past.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing 'regret' with 'жалеть' which can mean 'to pity' rather than 'to regret'.
- Direct translation may lead to overusing 'regret' where 'apologize' or 'be sorry' is more natural in English.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I regret to do that' for past actions; correct: 'I regret doing that' with gerund.
- Mixing up 'regret to inform' (for announcing bad news) and 'regret informing' (for past action).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is a common collocation with 'regret'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Regret' is broader and can be about any past action, while 'remorse' implies deeper guilt and moral wrongdoing, often with a desire for atonement.
Typically, 'regret' is negative, but it can be used in phrases like 'no regrets' to express acceptance or positivity about past choices.
The noun form is also 'regret', as in 'I have many regrets.' It is uncountable in general use but can be pluralized for specific instances.
It depends: 'regret + gerund' refers to past actions (e.g., regret leaving), while 'regret + infinitive' is used for announcing bad news (e.g., regret to inform).