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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. People also ask

   What does excuse mean?

   • Get a quick, free translation! EXCUSE definition: 1. to forgive someone or something: 2. to allow someone not to do or attend something when they…. Learn more.

   EXCUSE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/excuse

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   How do you say Excuse in a sentence?

   • The verb is pronounced (ɪkskjuːz ). 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. Once I had had a baby I had the perfect excuse to stay at home.

   EXCUSE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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   What is a good excuse?

   • 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. 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.

   EXCUSE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/excuse

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   Why are excuses important?

   • Thus, excuses are an important component to a comprehensive understanding of the blame process. The excuses, however, retain their character as individualized concessions of mercy. His rules of conduct are stripped, inter alia, of any reference to a mental element or aggravating features, as well as to the excuses.

   EXCUSE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/excuse

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   What does it mean to excuse someone for being late?

   • excuse somebody/yourself for doing something He excused himself for being late by explaining that his flight had been delayed. excuse somebody/yourself (from something) to allow somebody to leave; to say in a polite way that you are leaving Now if you'll excuse me, I'm a very busy man. She excused herself and left the meeting early.

   excuse verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/excuse_2

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   What is the difference between excuse and forgive?

   • Excuse means to overlook some (usually) slight offense: to excuse bad manners. Forgive is applied to excusing more serious offenses: to forgive and forget. Pardon usually applies to a specific act of lenience or mercy by an official or superior: The governor was asked to pardon the condemned criminal.

   EXCUSE Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   Learn the meaning of excuse as a verb and a noun, with synonyms, antonyms, and idioms. See how to use excuse in different contexts, such as apologizing, explaining, or avoiding something.

   • English (US)

     EXCUSE meaning: 1. to forgive someone or something: 2. to...

   • Excuse Me

     EXCUSE ME definition: 1. a polite way of attracting...

   • Excuse: Russian Translation

     EXCUSE translate: извинять, прощать , освобождать (от работы...

   • Excuse: French Translation

     EXCUSE translate: excuse [feminine], excuse [feminine],...

   • Excuse: Korean Translation

     EXCUSE translate: 용서하다, 양해를 구하다, 변명, 핑계 거리. Learn more in...

   • Excuse: German Translation

     excuse translate: entschuldigen, befreien, die...

   • Excuse: Thai Translation

     EXCUSE translate: ขอโทษ, อนุญาตให้ไป, ข้อแก้ตัว. Learn more...

   • Excuse: Malay Translation

     excuse translate: maafkan, dikecualikan, alasan. Learn more...

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   To excuse someone or excuse their behaviour means to provide reasons for their actions, especially when other people disapprove of these actions. He excused himself by saying he was 'forced to rob to maintain my wife and cat'.

5. Videos

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6. 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.

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

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › excuse

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   The meaning of EXCUSE is to make apology for. How to use excuse in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Excuse.

8. 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.

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionexcuse noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation and usage of the word excuse, a reason that you give to explain or defend your behaviour. See synonyms, collocations and examples of excuse in different contexts.

10. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionexcuse verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

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    Learn the meaning, pronunciation and grammar of the verb excuse, with examples and idioms. Find out how to use excuse to forgive, justify, apologize, interrupt or leave politely.