excuse

Definitions

1. 1transitive verb

   To free from accusation, or the imputation of fault or blame; to clear from guilt; to release from a charge; to justify by extenuating a fault; to exculpate; to absolve; to acquit.

2. 2transitive verb

   To pardon, as a fault; to forgive entirely, or to admit to be little censurable, and to overlook; as, we excuse irregular conduct, when extraordinary circumstances appear to justify it.

3. 3transitive verb

   To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to overlook; to pardon.

4. 4transitive verb

   To free from an impending obligation or duty; hence, to disengage; to dispense with; to release by favor; also, to remit by favor; not to exact; as, to excuse a forfeiture.

5. 5transitive verb

   To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.

6. 6transitive verb

   The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning, releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution; justification; extenuation.

7. 7transitive verb

   That which is offered as a reason for being excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or irregular deportment; apology; as, an excuse for neglect of duty; excuses for delay of payment.

8. 8transitive verb

   That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a fault.

9. 9noun

   a poor example

   "it was an apology for a meal"

   "a poor excuse for an automobile"

   Synonyms

   apology
10. 10noun

    a note explaining an absence

    "he had to get his mother to write an excuse for him"

11. 11noun

    a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.

    "he kept finding excuses to stay"

    "every day he had a new alibi for not getting a job"

    Synonyms

    alibiexculpation
12. 12verb

    excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with

    "excuse someone's behavior"

    "She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities"

    Synonyms

    condone
13. 13verb

    serve as a reason or cause or justification of

    "Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work"

    "Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again"

    Synonyms

    explain
14. 14verb

    grant exemption or release to

    "Please excuse me from this class"

    Synonyms

    exemptrelieve
15. 15verb

    ask for permission to be released from an engagement

16. 16verb

    defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning

    "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"

    "he rationalized his lack of success"

    Synonyms

    apologiseapologizejustifyrationaliserationalize
17. 17verb

    accept an excuse for

    "Please excuse my dirty hands"

    Synonyms

    pardon