I. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
an expression of regret
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The military has not offered any expression of regret over the civilian loss of life.
murmur of agreement/surprise/regret etc (= one that expresses a particular feeling )
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There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd.
pang of jealousy/guilt/remorse/regret
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She felt a sudden pang of guilt.
regret a decision (= wish you had not made a particular decision )
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I was already regretting my decision to go on holiday with him.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
bitterly
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It was an agreement that Lear was to regret bitterly in later years.
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Many who have left the Association already bitterly regret it.
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They had rushed into it too quickly, and lived to bitterly regret their impulsiveness.
deeply
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I deeply regret that I was unable to have a word with the housekeeper when she was more collected in mind.
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It read: The Governor deeply regrets you were inconvenienced by Mr Dach, a member of his advance team.
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But when this was over, Eleanor would deeply regret that she had tried to interfere with his personal life.
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He communicates less and less with his wife, who now deeply regrets the entire affair.
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We deeply regret the death of this noble person.
greatly
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Fitzroy said they would greatly regret losing me but understood my reasons.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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Do you ever regret taking this job?
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I regret to say that a number of statements made by the department were incorrect.
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I have always regretted giving up my piano lessons.
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I think she regrets now that she never went to college.
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It was a stupid thing to say, and I immediately regretted it.
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The airport announced that due to bad weather all flights were cancelled, and they regretted any inconvenience this would cause.
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The management regrets to inform you that your contract will not be renewed next month.
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The owners said they regretted the decision to close the store, but felt unable to do otherwise.
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The Public Health ministry said it deeply regretted the error.
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We truly regret any inconvenience this mistake caused you.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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A shy smile hinted that he did not entirely regret it.
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I have definitely chosen and I don't regret me choice.
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I instantly regret my indiscretion and beg him to keep the news to himself.
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That was a name he was already beginning to regret .
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We also read about women who tried to do something and failed and now regret that they even tried.
II. noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADJECTIVE
deep
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With deep regret he decided that he would have to abort his part of the mission.
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It was with deep regret that I had to leave for home later that evening.
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He has contemplated suicide, he says; he feels deep regret about the death.
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As you know, you have always had my warm personal support, and I accepted your decision with deep regret .
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The government has done so with the deepest regret .
great
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Rattigan's great professional regret was the failure of his 1949 play based on Alexander the Great, Adventure Story.
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My greatest regret in life was abandoning Amanda, my calico.
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It was a great regret to me that our partnership was to come to an end.
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It is with great personal regret that I have come to this conclusion.
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My great regret was that I never recorded with Busch.
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With great regret they decided to abandon the project in view of the ever-increasing cost.
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The tone of Tithonus' words seem to be of great regret and self lamenting.
■ VERB
express
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President Afeworki expressed his regret at their deaths and insisted they were not intentional.
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I know of not a single surgeon who ever expressed any regret over these women or apologized to one of them.
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As reported last month four boys have been suspended for unacceptable behaviour and have expressed no regret for their actions.
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When he retired, several civil rights leaders expressed regret .
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Yet all the while she spoke with me, she never made a sound nor expressed any sadness or regret .
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Many of these men expressed regret at what they had done as soon as they were sober.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
sb will live to regret it
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He may think leaving his wife for the other woman is a good idea, but he'll live to regret it.
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If you put all your money in this real estate deal, I guarantee you'll live to regret it.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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"I was too young to know what I was doing," said Martha with a deep sigh of regret .
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Her biggest regret is that she turned down a job with Gardner's in 1985.
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I knew that if I didn't make a clean break with Victor I should be filled with regrets for the rest of my life.
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Jason detected a note of regret in her voice.
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My main regret is that I never finished my college degree.
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My one regret is that I never visited the Taj Mahal when I was in India.
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Officers expressed regret about the boy's death.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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A life for a telegram from the War Department stating regret .
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But he insists regret should never make a footballer compromise on toughness.
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Did he feel regret , and if so, did he allow anyone to see it?
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His only regret was that he could not drive, because of his epilepsy.
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Mchboob looked disappointed; his whole face relaxed into regret .
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She looked at him a moment as if there were some kind of regret or shame fighting it out inside of her.
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There was regret in his voice.
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Warnod had to decline, to his later regret .