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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
regretful
adjective
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ He did not crave recognition, but was understandably regretful about his lack of it.
▪ She cast a regretful look at the big double bed with its luxurious continental quilt.
▪ There wasn't much else to see, Malcolm Anderson told Jean, sounding regretful.
▪ Whispered in reverent and regretful tones, the rumors had been floating for the past few weeks that her condition had worsened.
▪ With a regretful sigh he removed his arm from its protective place around her shoulders and stepped back.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Regretful

Regretful \Re*gret"ful\ (-f?l), a. Full of regret; indulging in regrets; repining. -- Re*gret"ful*ly, adv.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
regretful

1640s, "full of regret," from regret + -ful. Regretfully, properly "with regret," incorrectly used in place of regrettably "it is to be regretted that; calling for regret" since at least 1965. "A regrettable use, prob. after HOPEFULLY adv.2" [OED].

Wiktionary
regretful

a. 1 Full of feelings of regret, indulging in regrets. 2 Sorrowful about what has been lost or done.

WordNet
regretful

adj. having regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone; "felt regretful over his vanished youth"; "regretful over mistakes she had made" [syn: sorry] [ant: unregretful]

Usage examples of "regretful".

Casting a long regretful look over her shoulder at Bento, she walked to the front gate.

As he left, the New York Times man cast a regretful glance back at the unconsumed drinks for which he had paid.

With a last regretful glance at the dying animal, he unhinged his jaw and finned off to the south-east.

Whip Russel and Lou Goodman, shared over the precious cold beer dragged to its last regretful swallow, Midway was also the topic of discussion elsewhere on Garbutt Field.

By this time, she was informed of her debt to Drehkos and was truly regretful of the cool formality with which she had rebuffed his overtures of friendship, first at Vawnpolis, then during the raiding campaign.

He was relieved when they left although regretful as he watched the bakkie pull away.

He cast one regretful glance at Luke, then stood and made his rapid way out, followed with equal rapidity by Dif Scaur.

Moderation in eating and drinking is to be avoided for as long as possible, as it is a great vexation while it is going on, and disposes you to regretful recollections when you are living on crackers and boiled milk.

Ronnie soothingly refilled the glasses and gave us a regretful summary of the state of the book trade, which was in one of its periodical downswings on account of current high interest rates and their adverse effects on mortgage payments.

They say that it is still regretful for those few years when it appeared that Salterton would be the capital of Canada.

The hot dog I can recommend, he wrote, though it made me a little regretful because Sarah, my wife, uses the same kind of chili sauce and I thought of home the minute I swelled it.

Shiv shot a regretful glance toward the cart-girl Larrel, who was doing the rounds with a tray of bread and cut meats to placate the hungry customers.

Their language, when they foozled, was gently regretful rather than sulphurous.

Two or three scholars sprang forward, flung the low creature head over heels into a corner, and reinstated the patrician, smoothing his ruffled dignity with many soothing and regretful speeches.

He did say as the doctor seemed regretful, though-said Da would have made a more interesting specimen, what Wi' his leg stump and all.