excuse

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excuses, excusing, excused

(The noun is pronounced [[t]ɪkskju͟ːs[/t]]. The verb is pronounced [[t]ɪkskju͟ːz[/t]].)

1) N-COUNT: oft N for n/-ing, N to-inf An excuse is a reason which you give in order to explain why something has been done or has not been done, or in order to avoid doing something.

It is easy to find excuses for his indecisiveness...

Once I had had a baby I had the perfect excuse to stay at home...

If you stop making excuses and do it you'll wonder what took you so long.

Syn:

justification

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PHRASE: v-link PHR, oft PHR for n/-ing If you say that there is no excuse for something, you are emphasizing that it should not happen, or expressing disapproval that it has happened. (disapproval)

There's no excuse for behaviour like that...

Solitude was no excuse for sloppiness.

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

[V n by -ing] He excused himself by saying he was `forced to rob to maintain my wife and cat'...

[V n] That doesn't excuse my mother's behaviour.

Syn:

justify

3) VERB If you excuse someone for something wrong that they have done, you forgive them for it.

[V n for n/-ing] Many people might have excused them for shirking some of their responsibilities. [Also V n, V n n]

Syn:

forgive

4) VERB: usu passive If someone is excused from a duty or responsibility, they are told that they do not have to carry it out.

[be V-ed from n/-ing] She is usually excused from her duties during the school holidays...

[be V-ed n] She was excused duties on Saturday.

5) VERB If you excuse yourself, you use a phrase such as `Excuse me' as a polite way of saying that you are about to leave.

[V pron-refl] He excused himself and went up to his room.

6) CONVENTION (formulae) You say `Excuse me' when you want to politely get someone's attention, especially when you are about to ask them a question.

Excuse me, but are you Mr Honig?

Syn:

pardon me

7) CONVENTION (formulae) You use excuse me to apologize to someone when you have disturbed or interrupted them.

Excuse me interrupting, but there's a thing I feel I've got to say.

8) CONVENTION (politeness) You use excuse me or a phrase such as if you'll excuse me as a polite way of indicating that you are about to leave or that you are about to stop talking to someone.

`Excuse me,' she said to Jarvis, and left the room...

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do.

9) CONVENTION You use excuse me, but to indicate that you are about to disagree with someone. [mainly BRIT]

Excuse me, but I want to know what all this has to do with us.

10) PHRASE (formulae) You say excuse me to apologize when you have bumped into someone, or when you need to move past someone in a crowd.

Saying excuse me, pardon me, Seaton pushed his way into the crowded living room.

Syn:

sorry

11) CONVENTION (formulae) You say excuse me to apologize when you have done something slightly embarrassing or impolite, such as burping, hiccupping, or sneezing.

Syn:

pardon me

12) CONVENTION (formulae) You say `Excuse me?' to show that you want someone to repeat what they have just said. [AM]

(in BRIT, usually use , sorry)