REGRET definition: 1. a feeling of sadness about something sad or wrong or about a mistake that you have made, and a…. Learn more.
Regret differs from remorse in that people can regret things beyond their control, but remorse indicates a sense of responsibility for the situation. [3] For example, a person can feel regret that people die during natural disasters, but cannot feel remorse for that situation.
Regret, penitence, remorse imply a sense of sorrow about events in the past, usually wrongs committed or errors made. Regret is distress of mind, sorrow for what has been done or failed to be done: to have no regrets.
There are seven meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun regret, three of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
To feel sorry about (a thing that has or has not happened), afterthink: to wish that a thing had not happened, that something else had happened instead. Synonym: rue He regretted his words. I don't regret enrolling in law, but I regret not studying some Chinese.
REGRET definition: to feel sorrow or remorse for (an act, fault, disappointment, etc.). See examples of regret used in a sentence.
Regret and be sorry are both used to say that someone feels sadness or disappointment about something that has happened, or about something they have done. Regret is more formal than be sorry. You can say that you regret something or are sorry about it. I immediately regretted my decision.
Regret is a feeling of sadness or disappointment, which is caused by something that has happened or something that you have done or not done. My great regret in life is that I didn't bring home the America's Cup.