Basic Details
Word: Excuse
Part of Speech: Noun and verb
Meaning: As a noun, a reason you give to explain a mistake or why you did not do something. As a verb, to forgive someone or to let them off a duty.
Synonyms: reason, explanation, pardon, forgive
Antonyms: blame, punish
How to Spell Excuse
Syllables: ex - cuse
Tricky part: A c sits between the x and the u, and the word ends in se even when it sounds like z. Excuze and exuse are common slips.
Watch out for: exuse, excuze, exscuse
Memory tip: Excuse ends in use: an excuse is of no use if nobody believes it.
Idioms and Phrases
- excuse me: a polite way to get someone's attention or to say sorry for a small mistake Example: "Excuse me, could you tell me where the post office is?"
Usage Examples
Example 1: His excuse for missing the class was that the bus broke down.
Example 2: Please excuse the mess; we are painting the house.
Example 3: The coach excused Sana from practice because she had a fever.
Fun Fact
Excuse comes from Latin excusare, to free from blame, built from ex, out of, and causa, a charge or legal case.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. absence 2. excuze 3. apology 4. complaint
a) a statement saying that you are sorry
b) the state of being away from a place
c) a reason given to explain a mistake or lateness
d) a statement that something is wrong or unfair
Show answer
c) a reason given to explain a mistake or lateness. Even with its z sound, excuse ends in se, so excuze is wrong.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word excuse as used in the sentence:
Please excuse my little brother; he did not mean to be rude.
a) blame
b) overlook
c) pardon
d) forgive
Show answer
a) blame. Excusing lets a person off, while blaming holds them responsible.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
exscuse
a) c
b) s
c) u
d) x
Show answer
b) s. The x is followed straight away by c; no s sits between them.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which reply gives an excuse rather than an apology?
a) I will come on time tomorrow.
b) I am sorry I came late.
c) Thank you for waiting.
d) The bus was late, so I could not come on time.
Show answer
d) The bus was late, so I could not come on time.
2. 'Excuse me' is said when you ____.
a) have just won a prize in a contest
b) want someone's attention politely
c) are about to fall asleep in class
d) are angry and want to shout at someone
Show answer
b) want someone's attention politely
