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Definition of regret verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

regret

verb
 
/rɪˈɡret/
 
/rɪˈɡret/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they regret
 
/rɪˈɡret/
 
/rɪˈɡret/
he / she / it regrets
 
/rɪˈɡrets/
 
/rɪˈɡrets/
past simple regretted
 
/rɪˈɡretɪd/
 
/rɪˈɡretɪd/
past participle regretted
 
/rɪˈɡretɪd/
 
/rɪˈɡretɪd/
-ing form regretting
 
/rɪˈɡretɪŋ/
 
/rɪˈɡretɪŋ/
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  1. to feel sorry about something you have done or about something that you have not been able to do
    • regret something If you don't do it now, you'll only regret it.
    • The decision could be one he lives to regret.
    • I soon came to regret my action.
    • ‘I've had a wonderful life,’ she said, ‘I don't regret a thing.’
    • She regretted the words the moment they were out of her mouth.
    • regret doing something He bitterly regretted ever having mentioned it.
    • I never regretted dropping out of college.
    • regret what, how, etc… I deeply regret what I said.
    • regret that I regret that I never got to meet him in person.
    Extra Examples
    • I immediately regretted not asking for his name and address.
    • It was a decision she would soon regret.
    • Pierre told them some things he later regretted telling.
    • She knew that she would live to regret this decision.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • bitterly
    • deeply
    • greatly
    verb + regret
    • begin to
    • come to
    • grow to
    See full entry
  2. (formal) used to say in a polite or formal way that you are sorry or sad about a situation
    • regret something The airline regrets any inconvenience.
    • The president said that his country deeply regretted the incident.
    • The United States regrets the loss of innocent civilian lives.
    • regret that I regret that I am unable to accept your kind invitation.
    • I very much regret that I cannot be with you this evening.
    • regret to do something We regret to inform you that your application has not been successful.
    • I regret to say that we cannot let you have the picture.
    • it is regretted that… It is to be regretted that so many young people leave school without qualifications.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • bitterly
    • deeply
    • greatly
    verb + regret
    • begin to
    • come to
    • grow to
    See full entry
  3. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French regreter ‘bewail (the dead)’.
See regret in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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