excuse

Verb

Verb

×

A word that expresses an action, state, or occurrence.

present (v1)

excuse

past (v2)

excused

past participle (v3)

excused

present participle

excusing

3rd person singular

excuses

Noun

Noun

×

A word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.

Plural

excuses

Verb

Verb

×

A word that expresses an action, state, or occurrence.

1. 1.To forgive; to pardon; to overlook.

   • I excused him his transgressions.

2. 2.To allow to leave, or release from any obligation.

   • May I be excused from the table?
   • I excused myself from the proceedings to think over what I'd heard.

3. 3.To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.

   • "Excuse me, do you speak English?" "Yes. A little."
   • Excuse me, what time is it?

4. 4.To provide an excuse for; to justify.

   • You know he shouldn't have done it, so don't try to excuse his behavior!

Noun

Noun

×

A word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.

1. 1.An explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgment; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault.

   • I had to make an excuse for being late to the meeting.
   • Tell me why you were late – and I don't want to hear any excuses!

2. 2.A defense to a criminal or civil charge wherein the accused party admits to doing acts for which legal consequences would normally be appropriate, but asserts that special circumstances relieve that party of culpability for having done those acts.

3. 3.An example of something that is substandard or of inferior quality.

   • He's a sorry excuse for a doctor.
   • What a fucking lame excuse for a man.
   • That thing is a poor excuse for a gingerbread man. Hasn't anyone taught you how to bake?

Overall

Common· #1691

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Common

General reading & writing

Rare

Academic

Rare

Literature

Rare