[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/apologise/)

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# apologise

verb (apologise, apologises, apologised, apologising)

«apologise» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To say you are sorry for something you did wrong or for something that upset or hurt someone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/apologise/#m1)
2. To say sorry politely for a small trouble, like being late or interrupting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/apologise/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday life and safety lessons, apologising is part of good manners and of fixing a friendship after a quarrel: you say what you did, say sorry, and try to put it right. In stories, a character who apologises shows they understand they were wrong. Phrases: «apologise to someone», «apologise for something», «apologise for being late», «I apologise».

### Examples

- I apologised to my sister for breaking her pencil. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/apologise/#x1)
- You should apologise to Sam for pushing him. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/apologise/#x2)
- The bus driver apologised for the delay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/apologise/#x3)
- She apologised for interrupting the teacher. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/apologise/#x4)
- He never apologises, even when he is wrong. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/apologise/#x5)
- "I apologise," said the waiter, and brought a clean fork. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/apologise/#x6)
- A good apology says what you did and how you will fix it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/apologise/#x7)
- We apologised to our neighbour after the ball hit her window. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/apologise/#x8)

### Note

British spelling «apologise»; American spelling «apologize» — both are correct. The noun is «apology» (plural «apologies»). Say «apologise TO a person FOR a thing», not «apologise someone». A real apology means it; saying sorry while still teasing is not a real apology.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «apologise» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/apologise/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«apologise» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/apologise.html) on Mova free.