regret not leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "regret not leaving" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when expressing remorse about not having left a situation or place. Example: "I regret not leaving the party earlier." Alternative expressions include "wish I had left" and "lament not departing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I don't regret not finishing my A-levels, but I regret not leaving public school and doing something other than I did.

The Guardian

Suffice to say, I regret not leaving sooner.

Forbes

I regret not leaving you due to fear of the unknown.

HuffPost

Highlighting the split between Trump and his advisors, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said the U.S. would "probably regret" not leaving troops in Syria to train local security forces in liberated areas and to protect Syrian militias that have aided the U.S. effort.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"My mother had always regretted not leaving Hungary after she got out of the concentration camp.

The New York Times

Yet, in time and with perspective, the only thing a quitter usually regrets is not leaving sooner.

The Guardian - Opinion

"More than anything else I have failed to do, and even amid my pride in the many important things we did accomplish, I regret that I did not leave at that point".

The New York Times

"Rooney will regret what he did for a long time and England will hope they are not left to regret it at Euro 2012.

BBC

Our only regret was that we did not leave time to see Ankara's archaeological museum, said to be one of the best in Turkey.

The New York Times

Not Crompton, an unambitious man who regretted only that public interest would not leave him to his seclusion, so that he might "earn undisturbed the fruits of his ingenuity and perseverance".

The New Yorker

I can only regret that the idea of #Brexit has not left with Davis and Johnson.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the gerund 'leaving' is used instead of an infinitive, as the verb 'regret' followed by a gerund correctly refers to a past action or omission.

Common error

Avoid writing 'regret to not leave'. In English, 'regret' followed by an infinitive is used to announce bad news in the present (e.g., 'I regret to inform you'), whereas 'regret' followed by a gerund is required to express remorse about the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "regret not leaving" functions as a transitive verb followed by a negated gerund phrase. In this construction, 'regret' is the main verb and 'not leaving' acts as the direct object, specifying exactly what the speaker feels remorseful about. According to Ludwig AI, this is a standard and grammatically accurate way to describe retrospective dissatisfaction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "regret not leaving" is a grammatically correct and effective English phrase used to express remorse over a past decision to stay. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a reliable construction, particularly within high-quality journalism and personal narratives. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media contexts, where it serves to describe everything from personal relationship regrets to major geopolitical missteps, such as troop withdrawals. While the phrase is technically categorized as 'Rare' in terms of exact string matches, its components follow robust linguistic patterns that make it highly versatile. Writers should favor this gerund-based construction over infinitive alternatives when looking back at the past. By using "regret not leaving", you provide a clear and emotionally resonant description of an omission that the subject now wishes they could change.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wish I had left

Uses a subjunctive mood for a more direct, personal expression of counterfactual desire.

regret staying

A more concise construction that focuses on the act of remaining rather than the omission of departing.

wish I hadn't stayed

Shifts the focus to the negative regret of the presence of an action (staying).

remorseful about staying

Uses an adjective phrase to emphasize the emotional state of the speaker.

rue the decision to stay

Utilizes the more literary and intense verb 'rue' for deeper emotional impact.

lament not departing

Increases the level of formality, suitable for academic or highly literary contexts.

deplore not moving on

Suggests a stronger sense of disapproval regarding the failure to change circumstances.

repent not having gone

Adds a layer of moral or heavy personal responsibility to the omission.

sorry for not exiting

A more colloquial and slightly less formal way to express the same sentiment.

grieve for not quitting

Specific to professional or task-oriented contexts where the regret involves a failure to stop.

FAQs

How do I use "regret not leaving" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe remorse about a past decision, such as in the sentence, "Many expats "regret not leaving" before the economic crisis hit."

What is the difference between "regret not leaving" and "regret to not leave"?

"regret not leaving" is the correct way to express remorse about a past event. The phrase "regret to not leave" is grammatically incorrect because the infinitive form is reserved for present announcements of disappointing news.

Can I say "wish I had left" instead?

Yes, "wish I had left" is a perfectly valid and very common alternative that carries a similar meaning but feels slightly more personal.

Is "regret not leaving" formal enough for business writing?

Yes, it is neutral and appropriate. However, for a more professional tone, you might consider "regret the decision to stay" or "deplore the lack of departure" depending on the specific situation.