Regret vs. Repent — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Regret and Repent
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Compare with Definitions
Regret
Regret is the emotion of wishing one had made a different decision in the past, because the consequences of the decision were unfavorable. Regret is related to perceived opportunity.
Repent
To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do; be contrite
"[He] liked to visit prisoners and admonish them to repent of their ways" (Adam Hochschild).
Regret
Feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that one has done or failed to do)
She immediately regretted her words
I always regretted that I never trained
Repent
To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's mind regarding it
Repented of intemperate behavior. You'd better accept their offer before they repent.
Regret
A feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over an occurrence or something that one has done or failed to do
He had to decline, to his regret
She expressed her regret at Virginia's death
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Repent
To become a more moral or religious person as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins.
Regret
To feel sorry, disappointed, distressed, or remorseful about
I regret not speaking to her before she left.
Repent
To feel regret or self-reproach for
Repent one's sins.
Regret
To remember with a feeling of loss or sorrow; mourn
"He almost regretted the penury which he had suffered during the last two years since the desperate struggle merely to keep body and soul together had deadened the pain of living" (W. Somerset Maugham).
Repent
(Archaic) To cause (one or oneself) to feel remorse or regret
"And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth" (King James Bible).
Regret
To feel regret.
Repent
Prostrate or growing along the ground.
Regret
A feeling of sorrow, disappointment, distress, or remorse about something that one wishes could be different.
Repent
(intransitive) To feel pain, sorrow, or regret for what one has done or omitted to do; the cause for repenting may be indicated with "of".
Marry in haste, repent at leisure.
Regret
A sense of loss and longing for someone or something gone or passed out of existence
"We have both had flashes of regret for those vanished, golden people" (Anne Rivers Siddons).
Repent
To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to practice sin and to love.
Regret
Regrets A courteous expression of regret, especially at having to decline an invitation.
Repent
(transitive) To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
Regret
To feel sorry about (a thing that has or has not happened), afterthink: to wish that a thing had not happened, that something else had happened instead.
He regretted his words.
Repent
(transitive) To be sorry for, to regret.
I repent my sins.
Regret
(more generally) To feel sorry about (any thing).
I regret that I have to do this, but I don't have a choice.
Repent
To cause to have sorrow or regret.
Regret
To miss; to feel the loss or absence of; to mourn.
Repent
To cause (oneself) to feel pain or regret.
Regret
Emotional pain on account of something done or experienced in the past, with a wish that it had been different; a looking back with dissatisfaction or with longing.
Repent
Creeping along the ground.
Regret
(obsolete) Dislike; aversion.
Repent
Prostrate and rooting; - said of stems.
Regret
(decision theory) The amount of avoidable loss that results from choosing the wrong action.
Repent
Same as Reptant.
Regret
Pain of mind on account of something done or experienced in the past, with a wish that it had been different; a looking back with dissatisfaction or with longing; grief; sorrow; especially, a mourning on account of the loss of some joy, advantage, or satisfaction.
What man does not remember with regret the first time he read Robinson Crusoe?
Never any prince expressed a more lively regret for the loss of a servant.
From its peaceful bosom [the grave] spring none but fond regrets and tender recollections.
Repent
To feel pain, sorrow, or regret, for what one has done or omitted to do.
First she relentsWith pity; of that pity then repents.
Regret
Dislike; aversion.
Repent
To change the mind, or the course of conduct, on account of regret or dissatisfaction.
Lest, peradventure, the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.
Regret
To experience regret on account of; to lose or miss with a sense of regret; to feel sorrow or dissatisfaction on account of (the happening or the loss of something); as, to regret an error; to regret lost opportunities or friends.
Calmly he looked on either life, and hereSaw nothing to regret, or there to fear.
In a few hours they [the Israelites] began to regret their slavery, and to murmur against their leader.
Recruits who regretted the plow from which they had been violently taken.
Repent
To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to love and practice sin.
Except ye repent, ye shall likewise perish.
Regret
Sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment;
He drank to drown his sorrows
He wrote a note expressing his regret
To his rue, the error cost him the game
Repent
To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
I do repent it from my very soul.
Regret
Feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
Repent
To feel regret or sorrow; - used reflexively.
My father has repented him ere now.
Regret
Feel sad about the loss or absence of
Repent
To cause to have sorrow or regret; - used impersonally.
Regret
Decline formally or politely;
I regret I can't come to the party
Repent
Turn away from sin or do penitence
Regret
Be sorry;
I regret to say that you did not gain admission to Harvard
Repent
Feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
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