Looking up...
feeling remorse or expressing an apology
She said sorry when she knocked over the vase.
She apologized after breaking the vase.
Can be used to preface a request or to acknowledge a mistake.
From Old English *sarig* meaning ‘sorrowful’, related to *sorrow*.
In formal writing, use 'I apologize' instead of 'sorry'. In spoken English, 'sorry' softens requests and can be used to get attention.