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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.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › excuse_1excuse noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

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   Check pronunciation: excuse. Definition of excuse noun in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

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

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   EXCUSE meaning: 1. to forgive someone for something that is not very serious: 2. to say that someone does not have…. Learn more.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › essential-british-english › excuseEXCUSE definition | Cambridge Essential English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › essential-british-english › excuse

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   Definition of excuse in Essential British English Dictionary. excuse. verb. uk/ɪkˈskjuːz/ excusing | excused. Add to word listAdd to word list. B1. to forgive someone for something that is not very serious: Please excuse my appearance, I’ve been painting. to say that someone does not have to do something:

5. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › excusedExcused Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › excused

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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.

6. www.betterwordsonline.com › dictionary › excuseExcuse - Definition, Meaning, Synonyms, Etymology

   www.betterwordsonline.com › dictionary › excuse

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   excuse. verb. /ɪkˈskyuz/ IPA. Dictionary definition of excuse. To pardon or forgive someone for a mistake, offense, or wrongdoing, thereby releasing them from any blame or responsibility. "Please excuse my tardiness; I got caught in heavy traffic." Detailed meaning of excuse.

7. premium-oxforddictionaries-com.libproxy.ucl.ac.uk › excuseexcuse - definition of excuse in English from the Oxford ...

   premium-oxforddictionaries-com.libproxy.ucl.ac.uk › excuse

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   seek to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offence); try to jus.... Meaning, pronunciation and example sentences, English to English reference content.

8. www.wordsmyth.netexcuse | Dictionaries and vocabulary tools for English ...

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   ex·cuse. parts of speech: transitive verb, noun. features: Word Combinations ( verb, noun ), Word Explorer, Grammatical Patterns. Word Explorer. See. anger. The meaning of excuse. Definition of excuse. English dictionary and integrated thesaurus for learners, writers, teachers, and students with advanced, intermediate, and beginner levels.