Excuse Definition
excuse
noun
- 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"; "his transparent self-justification was unacceptable"
- a note explaining an absence; "he had to get his mother to write an excuse for him"
- a poor example; "it was an apology for a meal"; "a poor excuse for an automobile"
verb
- accept an excuse for; "Please excuse my dirty hands"
- grant exemption or release to; "Please excuse me from this class"
- 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"
- defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"
- ask for permission to be released from an engagement
- excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with; "excuse someone's behavior"; "She condoned her husband's occasional infidelities"
"Excuse" in song lyrics
See how excuse is used in real songs:
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"So everybody in the house, no excuse"
The 7A3 — Everybody Get Loose -
"thinking foreign blacks are better, and Hip Hop's your excuse"
Anacron — Yeah (Still Affiliated) -
"His abuse, her child, his excuse"
Arsonists f/ Lori Velez — His Hate, Her Love
Words that rhyme with excuse
Usage tips for "excuse"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "excuse" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for excuse to find words that pair well.