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apologize

apologizeverb

American /ə.ˈpɑ.lə.dʒaɪz/ British /ə.ˈpɒ.lə.dʒaɪz/ Stress falls on the second part: uh-POL-uh-jize.

British spelling: apologise

third-person singular apologizes past tense apologized past participle apologized present participle apologizing

very commondefining vocabulary

say that you are sorry for something wrong or unkind that you have done
intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]
- He apologized for being late. V + prep + obj
- She apologized to her sister for forgetting the birthday. V + prep + obj
- Please apologize to your brother right now. V + prep + obj
- The company apologized for the delay. V + prep + obj
Collocations
verb + preposition apologize for, apologize to
verb + adverb apologize sincerely, apologize profusely
Compare sorry
For translators (sense 1)
Grammar trap Apologize takes to before the person and for before the reason: apologize to someone for something; it is not followed by a direct object.

Word family

apology
apologetic

Usage

In everyday speech, I'm sorry is more common than I apologize, which sounds more formal or is used in writing.

Common mistakes

I apologize you for the mistake. I apologize to you for the mistake.
Apologize takes to before the person, not a direct object.