Library / English Dictionary

APOLOGIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing

Example:

He apologized for the many typoes

Synonyms:

apologise; apologize

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

"Apologize" 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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Example:

he rationalized his lack of success

Synonyms:

apologise; apologize; excuse; rationalise; rationalize

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

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

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

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

Credits

 Context examples: 

"Bad boy, be quiet! Sit down and think of your own sins, don't go making me add to mine. If I get your grandpa to apologize for the shaking, will you give up running away?" asked Jo seriously.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“I must really apologize, Hopkins,” said Sherlock Holmes.

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

"My nerves are on a hair-trigger these days," Martin apologized.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Dr. Freedman hopes to further this research by examining if the rejector is actually protecting their own feelings when apologizing.

(Sometimes You Shouldn't Say Sorry, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

As to the washerwoman pawning the clothes, and coming in a state of penitent intoxication to apologize, I suppose that might have happened several times to anybody.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

With a look of much respect, he immediately rose, and being introduced to her by her conscious daughter as Mr. Henry Tilney, with the embarrassment of real sensibility began to apologize for his appearance there, acknowledging that after what had passed he had little right to expect a welcome at Fullerton, and stating his impatience to be assured of Miss Morland's having reached her home in safety, as the cause of his intrusion.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I beg pardon—Ladies, Gentlemen, and Children—I must apologize, I had inadvertently omitted a considerable section of this audience (tumult, during which the Professor stood with one hand raised and his enormous head nodding sympathetically, as if he were bestowing a pontifical blessing upon the crowd), I have been selected to move a vote of thanks to Mr. Waldron for the very picturesque and imaginative address to which we have just listened.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Elinor and her mother rose up in amazement at their entrance, and while the eyes of both were fixed on him with an evident wonder and a secret admiration which equally sprung from his appearance, he apologized for his intrusion by relating its cause, in a manner so frank and so graceful that his person, which was uncommonly handsome, received additional charms from his voice and expression.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

That she was coming to apologize, and that they should have to spend the evening by themselves, was the first black idea; and Mary was quite ready to be affronted, when Louisa made all right by saying, that she only came on foot, to leave more room for the harp, which was bringing in the carriage.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Mr. Carruthers apologized to me next day, and assured me that I should never be exposed to such an insult again.

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