What does regretful mean?
Regretful means feeling sorry or remorseful about something that has happened or been done. It describes a person's emotional condition and can also characterize a smile, expression, voice, or apology that communicates regret. The word is commonly used when someone acknowledges a mistake, misses a person or opportunity, or wishes that a past event had turned out differently. Regretful is distinct from regrettable: the former describes how someone feels, while the latter describes something that deserves regret. In everyday use, regretful often conveys a restrained or polite sadness rather than overwhelming remorse. It appears in expressions such as “a regretful smile” and “a regretful apology,” and it is understood in both British and American English.
adjectiveFeeling or expressing sorry regret or remorse about something that has happened or been done.
- Feeling sorry or remorseful about a past action, decision, or event.
- Expressing or accompanied by regret, especially in the manner of a person's face, voice, or words.
"She gave a regretful smile as she apologized for the delay."
"He was regretful about not apologizing sooner."
"Her regretful expression made it clear that she would miss the old house."
Regretful is the feeling you carry after the moment when “if only” starts doing all the emotional work.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does regretful come from?
Regretful is formed within English by combining regret with the suffix -ful, meaning “full of.” The word regret ultimately comes through Old French from Latin regretum, a noun meaning “public complaint” or “lament,” derived from regredi, “to step backward.” Its modern sense of remorse or sorrow developed over time. Regrettable and regrettably share the same English root, while regretfulness and regretfully are closely related formations based on regret.
Related word forms
How regretful is actually used
Regretful describes a person's emotional state or manner. It is often used with words such as smile, expression, and tone, and is generally neutral to slightly formal.
Easily confused with regretful
Regretful describes a person's feeling of regret, whereas regrettable describes an action, event, or circumstance that is worthy of regret.