Regret is a feeling of sadness or disappointment, which is caused by something that has happened or something that you have done or not done. My great regret in life is that I didn't bring home the America's Cup.

regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

Holding onto past failures, regrets and mistakes is like carrying around 100 pounds on your back. We deeply regret that that computer was stolen and that information about our patients was included. Ask them how many of them have regrets.

Regret can be a painful emotion, but it can also help motivate you to make better choices. Learn more about steps you can take to cope with regret.

regret (countable and uncountable, plural regrets) Emotional pain on account of something done or experienced in the past, with a wish that it had been different; a looking back with dissatisfaction or with longing.

Regret and be sorry are both used to say that someone feels sadness or disappointment about something that has happened, or about something they have done. Regret is more formal than be sorry. You can say that you regret something or are sorry about it. I immediately regretted my decision.

Regret, penitence, remorse imply a sense of sorrow about events in the past, usually wrongs committed or errors made.