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1. Dictionary

   excuse

   verb

   • 1. seek to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offence); try to justify: "he did nothing to hide or excuse Jacob's cruelty" Similar justifydefendmake excuses formake a case forexplain (away)rationalizecondonevindicatewarrantmitigatepalliateapologize forforgiveoverlookdisregardignorepass overturn a blind eye toturn a deaf ear towink atblink atindulgetoleratesanctionrare:extenuateOpposite condemn
   • ▪ forgive (someone) for a fault or offence: "you must excuse my brother" Similar forgivepardonabsolveexonerateacquitmake allowances forinformal:let someone off (the hook)rare:exculpateOpposite punishblame
   • ▪ overlook or make allowances for: "sit down—excuse the mess"
   • ▪ (of a fact) serve to mitigate (a person or act): "his ability excuses most of his faults"
   • 2. release (someone) from a duty or requirement: "it will not be possible to excuse you from attendance" Similar let offreleaserelieveexemptspareabsolvefreeliberaterare:dispenseOpposite hold to
   • ▪ (used in polite formulas) allow (someone) to leave a room or gathering: "and now, if you'll excuse us, duty calls"
   • ▪ say politely that one is leaving: "I had to excuse myself and go out of the room"
   • ▪ (used by school pupils) be allowed to leave the room, especially to go to the toilet: "please, Miss, can I be excused?"

   noun

   • 1. a reason or explanation given to justify a fault or offence: "there can be no excuse for any further delay" Similar justificationdefencereasonexplanationmitigating circumstancesmitigationextenuationpalliationvindicationgroundscausebasiscallargumentapologyapologiaplea
   • ▪ a reason put forward to conceal the real reason for an action; a pretext: "as an excuse to get out of the house she went to post a letter" Similar pretextostensible reasonpretencefrontcover-upfabricationevasioninformal:storyalibilinecop-outget-out
   • ▪ a note written by a doctor or parent excusing a pupil from school. US
   • 2. a poor or inadequate example of: informal "that pathetic excuse for a man!" Similar travesty ofapology forpoor specimen ofpitiful example ofmockery ofpale shadow ofpoor imitation of

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French escuser (verb), from Latin excusare ‘to free from blame’, from ex- ‘out’ + causa ‘accusation, cause’.

   Scrabble Points: 15

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishEXCUSE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   EXCUSE definition: 1. to forgive someone or something: 2. to allow someone not to do or attend something when they…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › excuseExcuse Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › excuse

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   1. a. : to make apology for. b. : to try to remove blame from. 2. : to forgive entirely or disregard as of trivial import : regard as excusable. graciously excused his tardiness. 3. a. : to grant exemption or release to.

4. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › excuseExcuse - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › excuse

   An excuse is an explanation for something that went wrong. When we give an excuse , we're trying to get someone to cut us some slack. When you finish dinner and ask, "May I be excused?"

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › excuseEXCUSE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › excuse

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   Excuse definition: to regard or judge with forgiveness or indulgence; pardon or forgive; overlook (a fault, error, etc.). See examples of EXCUSE used in a sentence.

6. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishEXCUSE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   To excuse someone or to excuse their behaviour means to provide reasons for their actions, especially when other people disapprove of these actions.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › excuseExcuse - definition of excuse by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › excuse

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   ex·cuse. (ĭk-skyo͞oz′) tr.v. ex·cused, ex·cus·ing, ex·cus·es. 1. a. To make allowance for; overlook or forgive: Please excuse the interruption. b. To grant pardon to; forgive: We quickly excused the latecomer. 2. a. To apologize for (oneself) for an act that could cause offense: She excused herself for being late. b.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishexcuse noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   noun. /ɪkˈskjuːs/ a reason, either true or invented, that you give to explain or defend your behaviour. Late again! What's your excuse this time? I tried desperately to think of a good excuse. a lame/feeble/poor/flimsy excuse. a reasonable/valid excuse. I know I missed the deadline, but I have an excuse.

9. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › excuseexcuse | meaning of excuse in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary...

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › excuse

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   excuse meaning, definition, what is excuse: to forgive someone for doing something t...: Learn more.

10. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishexcuse verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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    Definition of excuse verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

11. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryEXCUSE | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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    to forgive someone for something that is not very serious: Please excuse my appearance, I've been painting. [ + for + doing sth ] She asked him to excuse her for being so rude. Fewer examples. You could be excused for being confused by the name. Please excuse me for being late. He could have been excused for wanting the event to finish.