Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - sorry

~ adj 1 »ASHAMED« feeling ashamed or unhappy about something bad you have done  (be sorry about)  (We're sorry about all the mess, Mom. | be sorry (that))  (Casey was sorry he'd gotten so angry at the kids over nothing. | say (you are) sorry)  (Go say you are sorry to your sister for hitting her, Larry. | sorry for)  (Tell Barbara you're sorry for pulling her hair. | say sorry especially BrE)  (Say sorry to your mother, Andrew.) 2 be/feel sorry for to feel pity or sympathy for someone because something bad has happened to them  (feel/be sorry for)  (Tina was sorry for Pat; she seemed so lonely. | I've got no sympathy for him, but I feel sorry for his wife. | feel sorry for yourself (=feel unhappy and pity yourself))  (It's no good feeling sorry for yourself. It's all your own fault.) 3 »DISAPPOINTED« feeling sad about a situation or about something you have done, and wishing you had not done it or the situation was different  (You'll be sorry if your father catches you! | be sorry (that))  (Brigid was always sorry she hadn't kept up her piano lessons. | I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the meal. | be sorry to do sth)  (We were sorry to miss your concert. | I won't be sorry to leave this place. | be sorry to hear/learn/see)  (I was sorry to hear about your accident.) 4 »VERY BAD« only before noun very bad, especially in a way that makes you feel pity or disapproval  (sorry sight)  (Milly was a sorry sight, dirty and dishevelled, by the time she got home. | sorry state of affairs)  (It's a sorry state of affairs when a sick old lady has to wait three hours to see a doctor.) 5 sorry/I'm sorry a) used to tell someone that you feel ashamed and unhappy about something bad you have done to them  (I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please forgive me.) + abou  (Sorry about that. I'll buy you a new one.) I'm sorry (that)  (I'm so sorry that I missed your birthday. I just completely forgot.) b) used as a polite way of excusing yourself in a social situation  (I'm sorry, did I step on your foot? | It's about ten miles, sorry, kilometres from here. | sorry (that))  (Sorry we're a bit late - we got lost. | sorry to do sth)  (I'm sorry to bother you, but Ms. Duggan is on the line.)  (- see excuse1) c) used to politely disagree with someone  (I'm sorry, Alex, but you've got your figures wrong.) 6 sorry? especially BrE used to ask someone to repeat something that you have not heard properly; pardon1 (1)  (Sorry? What was that again? | "Like a drink?" "Sorry?" "I said, would you like a drink?") 7 you'll be sorry used to tell someone they will regret what they have done  (You'll be sorry when I tell your Dad about this. | you'll be sorry (that))  (One day you'll be sorry that you didn't study harder at school.) 8 I'm sorry to say used to say that you are disappointed that something has happened  (I wrote to them several times but they never replied, I'm sorry to say.)