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1. Dictionary

   Ex·cuse

   verb

   • 1. attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or 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 offense: "you must excuse my sister" Similar forgivepardonabsolveexonerateacquitmake allowances forinformal:let someone off (the hook)rare:exculpateOpposite punishblame
   • ▪ overlook or forgive (a fault or offense): "sit down—excuse the mess"
   • ▪ (of a fact or circumstance) serve in mitigation of (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 jury duty" Similar let offreleaserelieveexemptspareabsolvefreeliberaterare:dispenseOpposite hold to
   • ▪ (used in polite formulas) allow (someone) to leave a room or gathering: "now, if you'll excuse us, we have to be getting along"
   • ▪ say politely that one is leaving: "I had to excuse myself and go out of the room"
   • ▪ (used especially by school pupils) be allowed to leave the room, especially to go to the bathroom: "please, can I be excused?"

   noun

   • 1. a reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense: "there can be no possible excuse for any further delay" Similar justificationdefensereasonexplanationmitigating circumstancesmitigationextenuationpalliationvindicationgroundscausebasiscallargumentapologyapologiaplea
   • ▪ a reason put forward to conceal the real reason for an action; a pretext: "when the rain started he used it as an excuse to leave early." Similar pretextostensible reasonpretensefrontcover-upfabricationevasioninformal:storyalibilinecop-outget-out
   • 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. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › excuseExcuse - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › excuse

   1. /ɛkˈskjus/ a defense of some offensive behavior. 2. /ɪkˈskjuz/ accept as a reason or cause or justification of. IPA guide. Other forms: excused; excuses; excusing. 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.

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › excuse

   • Cached

   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.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   5 days ago · An excuse is a reason which you give in order to explain why something has been done or has not been done, or to avoid doing something. I made an excuse and ran towards the door. American English : excuse / ɪkskyˈus /

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › excuses&EXCUSE Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › excuses&

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   verb (used with object), ex·cused, ex·cus·ing. to regard or judge with forgiveness or indulgence; pardon or forgive; overlook (a fault, error, etc.): Excuse his bad manners. to offer an apology for; seek to remove the blame of: He excused his absence by saying that he was ill.

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

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › excuse

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   From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English ex‧cuse1 /ɪkˈskjuːz/ S1 verb [ transitive] 1 → excuse me 2 forgive to forgive someone for doing something that is not seriously wrong, such as being rude or careless I’ll excuse you this time, but don’t be late again.

7. 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.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishEXCUSE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   B1. 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.