/'sɒrɪ; `sɔrɪ/
adj
1 [pred 作表语] ~ (to do sth/that...) feeling sadness or regret 感到悲伤或遗憾
*We're sorry to hear of your father's death. 我们获悉令尊去世, 非常难过.
* I'm sorry to say that I won't be able to accept the job. 很遗憾, 我不能接受这工作.
* I'd be sorry if you were to think that I disliked you. 若是你认为我不喜欢你, 那我就太伤心了.
2 [pred 作表语] ~ (for/about sth) full of shame and regret (esp about a past action); apologetic 惭愧; 懊悔; 自责; 表示歉意
*Aren't you sorry for/about what you've done? 你难道不为自己做的事情感到惭愧吗?
* If you say you're sorry (ie if you apologize) we'll forget the incident. 你要是道个歉, 我们就不追究这件事了.
3 (used to express mild regret, disagreement or refusal, and in making apologies and excuses 用以表示有些惋惜、不同意或拒绝, 用以表达歉意或藉以搪塞)
*`Can you lend me a pound?' `I'm sorry, I can't.' ｀能不能借给我一镑?＇｀很抱歉, 我无能为力.＇
* I'm sorry, but I don't share your opinion. 对不起, 您的意见我不能同意.
* I'm sorry I'm late. 对不起, 我来晚了.
4 [attrib 作定语] (-ier, -iest) (usu derog 通常作贬义) poor and shabby; pitiful 贫穷而残破的; 可怜的
*a sorry sight 可怜的情景
* The house was in a sorry state. 那房子残破不堪.
* (dated 旧) a sorry excuse, ie a worthless one 拙劣的藉口.
5 (idm 习语) be/feel sorry for sb
(a) feel sympathy for sb 同情某人
*I feel sorry for anyone who has to drive in this sort of weather. 我很同情在这种天气还得开车的人.
(b) feel pity for, or mild disapproval of, sb 怜悯某人; 对某人有些不赞成
*If he doesn't realize the consequences of his actions, I'm sorry for him. 倘若他意识不到自己行为的後果, 那我就觉得他很可悲了. better safe than sorry => better2. cut a sorry, etc figure => figure1.

interj
1 (used for apologizing, making excuses, etc 用以表示歉意、搪塞等)
*Sorry, did I knock your elbow? 对不起, 我是不是撞到你的胳膊肘了?
* Sorry, I don't know where she lives. 很抱歉, 我不知道她住在哪儿.
2 (esp Brit) (used when asking sb to repeat sth one has not heard properly 因未听清而请求对方再说一遍的用语) what did you say? 你说什么?
*`I'm hungry.' `Sorry?' `I said I'm hungry.' ｀我饿了.＇｀你说什么?＇｀我说我饿了.＇ =>Usage at excuse2 用法见 excuse2.

adj comparativesorriersuperlativesorriest

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1 sorry/I'm sorry
2【ashamed】
3 sorry?
4【feeling pity】
5【sad/disappointed】
6 you'll be sorry
7 I'm sorry to say (that)
8【very bad】

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[Language: Old English;Origin: sarig, from sar ( SORE¹); influenced by sorrow)]
sorry/I'm sorry
spokena) used to tell someone that you wish you had not done something that has affected them badly, hurt them etc
　I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.
　'Matt, stop doing that!' 'Sorry!'
　I'm sorry, did I step on your foot?
sorry (that)
　I'm sorry I'm late - the traffic was terrible.
sorry/I'm sorry about
　Sorry about the mess - I'll clean it up.
sorry for (doing) sth
　I'm sorry for making such a fuss.
　Sorry to bother you , but what was the address again?
see usage noteexcuse¹
b) used as a polite way of introducing disappointing information or a piece of bad news
　I'm sorry, but all the flights to Athens are fully booked.
c) used when you have said something that is not correct, and want to say something that is correct
　Turn right - sorry left - at the traffic lights.
d) used when you refuse an offer or request
　'Are you coming to lunch?' 'Sorry, no. I've got to finish this work.'
　'I'll give you $50 for it.' 'Sorry, no deal.'
e) used when you disagree with someone, or tell someone that they have done something wrong
　I'm sorry, but I find that very hard to believe, Miss Brannigan.
【ASHAMED】 [not before noun]
feeling ashamed or unhappy about something bad you have done
sorry for
　She was genuinely sorry for what she had done.
sorry (that)
　Casey was sorry he'd gotten so angry.
say (you are) sorry
(=tell someone that you feel bad about hurting them, causing problems etc)
　It was probably too late to say sorry, but she would try anyway.
see usage noteregret¹
sorry?
spoken especially BrE used to ask someone to repeat something that you have not heard properly
= pardon
　Sorry? What was that again?
　'Want a drink?' 'Sorry?' 'I said, would you like a drink?'
【FEELING PITY】
be/feel sorry for sb
to feel pity or sympathy for someone because something bad has happened to them or because they are in a bad situation
　I've got no sympathy for him, but I feel sorry for his wife.
　Tina was sorry for her. She seemed so lonely.
feel sorry for yourself
(=feel unhappy and pity yourself)
　It's no good feeling sorry for yourself. It's all your own fault.
【SAD/DISAPPOINTED】 [not before noun]
feeling sad about a situation, and wishing it were different
sorry (that)
　Brigid was always sorry she hadn't kept up her piano lessons.
sorry to do sth
　We were sorry to miss your concert.
　I won't be sorry to leave this place.
sorry to hear/see/learn
　I was sorry to hear about your accident.
sorry about
　I'm so sorry about your father (=I am sorry something bad has happened to him) .
you'll be sorry
spoken used to tell someone that they will soon wish they had not done something, especially because someone will be angry or punish them
　You'll be sorry when your dad hears about this.
I'm sorry to say (that)
spoken used to say that you are disappointed that something has happened
　I wrote several times but they never replied, I'm sorry to say.
【VERY BAD】 [only before noun]
very bad, especially in a way that makes you feel pity or disapproval
　the sorry state of the environment
　It's a sorry state of affairs when an old lady has to wait 12 hours to see a doctor.
　the sorry sight of so many dead animals
　This whole sorry episode (=bad thing that happened) shows just how incompetent the government has become.
→better (to be) safe than sorryatsafe¹ (9)