I absolutely regret

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I absolutely regret" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a strong feeling of remorse or disappointment about a past action or decision. Example: "I absolutely regret not taking the opportunity when it was presented to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I absolutely regret it, the distress it caused for Miriam".

Independent

Asked about the comments, his expression turned serious and he said, "Well, I absolutely regret it, because that wasn't how it was intended".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"We absolutely regret the setbacks Kim Dotcom has had since MegaUpload was taken offline, but we hope he as an entrepreneur will understand our side of the story and the decisions deliberately taken".

The Guardian - Tech

"We absolutely regret that that information wasn't passed on to the police," he said.

BBC

Stop worrying about what everyone's reactions will be to your next move -- talking to the guy at the bar, traveling to India, starting a blog -- and start living only by what you'll be proud of, or absolutely regret not doing when your very short life comes to an end.

Huffington Post

When I asked Zuckerberg about the IMs that have already been published online, and that I have also obtained and confirmed, he said that he "absolutely" regretted them.

The New Yorker

"My father absolutely regrets having committed a crime and regrets that Mr Mills, the train driver, got hurt.

The Guardian

Facebook would not confirm or deny that the messages were authentic when asked on Friday, but Zuckerberg told the New Yorker in September 2010 that he absolutely regretted sending them.

The Guardian - Tech

A conversation he now says he "absolutely" regrets: "If you're going to go on to build a service that is influential and that a lot of people rely on, then you need to be mature, right?

The Guardian - Tech

The New Yorker later confirmed the messages with Zuckerberg, who told the publication he "absolutely" regretted them.

TechCrunch

Spicer later told The New York Times he "absolutely" regretted criticizing the media for accurate reporting on Trump's inauguration crowd size.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I absolutely regret" to express a strong and unambiguous feeling of remorse or disappointment about a specific past action or decision. It's most effective when the consequences of that action are still relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "I absolutely regret" for trivial matters. The intensity of "absolutely" is best reserved for situations where the consequences are significant. Using it too casually can dilute its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I absolutely regret" functions as a declarative statement expressing a strong feeling of remorse or disappointment regarding a past action or decision. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a valid and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I absolutely regret" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to convey a strong feeling of remorse or disappointment. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While the phrase itself is valid, it's best reserved for situations where the regret is significant, as overusing "absolutely" can diminish its impact. Alternatives like "I deeply regret" or "I sincerely regret" can provide a similar sentiment with slightly different nuances. The choice depends on the desired level of emphasis and the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I deeply regret

Replaces "absolutely" with "deeply" for emphasis.

I sincerely regret

Substitutes "absolutely" with "sincerely" to convey genuine remorse.

I truly regret

Replaces "absolutely" with "truly" for a slightly less intense expression.

I bitterly regret

Uses "bitterly" instead of "absolutely" to indicate strong resentment and regret.

I profoundly regret

Employs "profoundly" in place of "absolutely" to suggest a deep and significant regret.

I wholeheartedly regret

Replaces "absolutely" with "wholeheartedly" to emphasize the completeness of the regret.

I deeply lament

Substitutes "regret" with "lament" for a more formal and sorrowful tone.

I feel immense regret

Uses a different structure to express a similar level of remorse.

I am filled with regret

Expresses regret as a feeling that overwhelms the speaker.

I can't help but regret

Indicates an unavoidable feeling of regret.

FAQs

How can I use "I absolutely regret" in a sentence?

You can use "I absolutely regret" to express strong remorse or disappointment about a past decision or action. For example, "I absolutely regret not taking that job offer".

What phrases are similar to "I absolutely regret"?

Alternatives include "I deeply regret", "I sincerely regret", or "I truly regret", depending on the desired level of emphasis.

Is it grammatically correct to say "I absolutely regret"?

Yes, the phrase "I absolutely regret" is grammatically correct and widely accepted in English. Ludwig confirms its validity.

What's the difference between "I regret" and "I absolutely regret"?

Adding "absolutely" intensifies the feeling of remorse. "I regret" expresses a general feeling of disappointment, while "I absolutely regret" emphasizes a stronger, more profound sense of regret.