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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. was excused from jury duty. b. : to allow to leave. excused the class.

4. 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.

5. 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?"

6. 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.

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 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.

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.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionaryEXCUSE - All you need to know about it | Collins English...

    www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary

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    An excuse is a reason that you give in order to explain why something has been done or has not been done, or in order to avoid doing something. [...] See no excuse [...] 2. To excuse someone or excuse their behavior means to provide reasons for their actions, especially when other people disapprove of these actions. [...] 3.

11. www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionaryEXCUSE definition in American English | Collins English...

    www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary

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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.