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apologize

/əˈpɑləˌd͡ʒaɪz/verb4 syllables

Apologize means: defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning.

Synonyms for apologize4

verb, as in defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning

apologise, excuse, rationalize, rationalise

verb, as in acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing

What does apologize mean?2

verb

1

defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning“rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior”

2

acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing“I apologized for being late”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Apologize in a sentence

  • You must apologize to her, and do it at once.CH
  • You must apologize to her, and that at once.Swift
  • If you're going to apologize, you should do it right away.CK
  • Since losing the match was everyone's fault, you don't have to apologize.User19745
  • Everyone can offend a boxer, but not everyone has time to apologize.al_ex_an_der
  • If you don't go, you'll have to apologize._undertoad
  • I tried to apologize, but the words stuck in my throat.sharptoothed
  • When you apologize, you lay the foundation for a future offense.carlosalberto

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of apologize

as a verb

past tense
apologized
present participle
apologizing
third-person singular
apologizes
past participle
apologized