Basic+ Word of the Day: regret

regret (verb, noun) past tense: regreted

"I'll regret eating this in the morning."

Regret means ‘to feel sorry.’

• Bob regrets that he did not go to college.
• The boy regretted stealing his mother's money to buy candy.
• We regret to inform you that your flight has been canceled.

Regret is also a feeling of sadness.

• We expressed our regret to the widow at the funeral.
• Elaine's greatest regret was that she did not spend more time with her parents.

Common uses

no regrets: doing things that you are satisfied about afterwards. Example: “When Rick thought about his career choices, he had no regrets.”

Did you know?

Nathan Hale, an American spy during the American Revolution, reportedly said before he was hanged by the British, “My only regret is that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

In pop culture

Listen to New Order singing “Regret.” What do they regret?

There are other meanings of regret.