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# sorry

adjective (sorry, sorrier, sorriest); interjection (Sorry!)

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

## Everyday

1. Feeling sad or bad because you did something wrong: "I'm sorry I broke it." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#m1)
2. Feeling sad for someone else: "I'm sorry your cat is ill." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#m2)
3. Used to say politely that you didn't hear: "Sorry?" [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#m3)
4. Used to say no politely or ask to pass: "Sorry, excuse me." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#m4)
5. Poor, sad-looking: "a sorry sight". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#m5)

### In the lessons

In manners and feelings: saying sorry and meaning it helps fix hurt feelings; a good apology says what you did and how you will make it right. Phrases: say sorry, feel sorry for, sorry about, sorry to hear, better safe than sorry.

### Examples

- I'm sorry I was late. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#x1)
- Say sorry to your sister. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#x2)
- I feel sorry for the lost dog. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#x3)
- Sorry, could you say that again? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#x4)
- I'm sorry to hear you are ill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#x5)
- Sorry, can I get past? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#x6)
- Better safe than sorry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#x7)
- The wet kitten was a sorry sight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#x8)
- “I feel very sorry for you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sorry/#x9)

### Note

"Sorry about" a thing; "sorry for" doing something or for a person. Canadians and British people say "sorry" very often, even just to be polite. Saying sorry doesn't always fix things; actions matter too.

## In Jewish tradition

In Job it means poor or wretched, as in "sorry comforters." It does not mean they were apologizing.

**Interpretation.** Job's complaint about his friends teaches that bad comfort can hurt more than silence.

### Examples

- I have heard many such things; sorry comforters are ye all. (Writings JOB.16.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sorry/#x1)

### Note

"Sorry about" a thing; "sorry for" doing something or for a person. Canadians and British people say "sorry" very often, even just to be polite. Saying sorry doesn't always fix things; actions matter too.

## On Mova

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