30 Other Ways to Say "Sorry for Wasting Your Time" (Examples)

Expressing regret when we feel we may have inconvenienced someone is essential to maintaining respectful and positive relationships. Saying the right words with care can make a message feel more genuine and sincere. In this guide, we explore thirty different ways to say “Sorry for wasting your time” professionally.

These alternatives will help you find the right phrasing for various situations, ensuring your message feels personal and considerate.

Table of Contents

What Does “Sorry for Wasting Your Time” Mean?

Meaning: This phrase is used to apologize when you feel you may have taken up someone’s time unnecessarily or disrupted their schedule without a valid outcome.

Explanation: Saying this phrase shows awareness and respect for the other person’s time, which can help ease any frustrations or inconveniences you may have unintentionally caused.

When to Use “Sorry for Wasting Your Time”

You can use this phrase when:

A meeting or conversation didn’t go as planned or lacked productivity
You’re unable to meet someone’s expectations after a time commitment
You realize an interaction could have been handled differently or more effectively

Is It Professional/Polite to Say “Sorry for Wasting Your Time”?

Yes, this phrase can be used in a professional context, but it’s often better to adjust it based on the formality and specifics of the situation. Being polite and direct shows respect and helps maintain positive professional relationships. Below, we’ll go over ways to say this with more clarity and empathy.

Complete List of Alternatives

Apologies for Any Inconvenience I May Have Caused
I Regret Any Unnecessary Time Taken
I’m Sorry for the Time We Spent Without a Clear Outcome
I Apologize for Not Making the Best Use of Your Time
Please Accept My Apologies for Any Time Lost
I’m Sorry for Any Time That May Have Been Unnecessarily Spent
I Regret the Time We Spent Without Progress
My Apologies if This Took Longer Than Expected
I’m Sorry for the Extra Time This Took
Thank You for Your Patience; I Apologize for the Delay
I Regret Any Time Wasted on My Part
I Apologize for Any Time that Didn’t Yield Results
I’m Sorry for the Unproductive Time Spent
Please Forgive Any Time That May Have Been Overlooked
I Take Responsibility for Any Wasted Time
I’m Sorry for Any Time That Could Have Been Better Spent
Apologies if This Has Been a Disruption
I’m Sorry for Taking Up More of Your Time Than Planned
Thank You for Your Patience as We Worked Through This
I Appreciate Your Time and Apologize if It Was Unproductive
I’m Sorry for Any Unnecessary Back-and-Forth
My Apologies for Any Time That Could Have Been Saved
I Apologize for Any Oversights That Led to Delays
I Regret That We Didn’t Reach the Outcome We Hoped For
Thank You for Bearing with Me; I’m Sorry for Any Time Lost
My Apologies for Not Optimizing Our Time Together
I’m Sorry for the Oversight That Led to Additional Time Spent
Thank You for Staying Patient; I Apologize if This Was a Hassle
I Regret the Time Taken and Any Inconvenience Caused
Please Accept My Apologies for Not Meeting Expectations

1. “Apologies for Any Inconvenience I May Have Caused”

Meaning: Expresses regret for any disruptions without explicitly saying “wasting time.”

Explanation: Suitable when the time impact was indirect or minor.

Example: “Apologies for any inconvenience I may have caused during our meeting.”

Tone: Professional, courteous.

2. “I Regret Any Unnecessary Time Taken”

Meaning: Admits to taking unnecessary time, showing accountability.

Explanation: Good for situations where you directly impacted someone’s schedule.

Example: “I regret any unnecessary time taken on this matter.”

Tone: Sincere, responsible.

3. “I’m Sorry for the Time We Spent Without a Clear Outcome”

Meaning: Acknowledges the effort without result.

Explanation: Useful when a discussion or project didn’t meet goals.

Example: “I’m sorry for the time we spent without a clear outcome; I’ll work on improving our process.”

Tone: Reflective, respectful.

4. “I Apologize for Not Making the Best Use of Your Time”

Meaning: Admits to a lack of efficiency.

Explanation: Works well in formal settings where time efficiency is valued.

Example: “I apologize for not making the best use of your time today.”

Tone: Formal, respectful.

5. “Please Accept My Apologies for Any Time Lost”

Meaning: Acknowledges the lost time politely.

Explanation: Appropriate when apologizing to clients or stakeholders.

Example: “Please accept my apologies for any time lost during our discussions.”

Tone: Polite, professional.

6. “I’m Sorry for Any Time That May Have Been Unnecessarily Spent”

Meaning: Emphasizes potential time spent without results.

Explanation: Ideal when you’re unsure if time was genuinely wasted.

Example: “I’m sorry for any time that may have been unnecessarily spent in this process.”

Tone: Gentle, considerate.

7. “I Regret the Time We Spent Without Progress”

Meaning: Acknowledges lack of progress.

Explanation: Best used in team meetings or project reviews.

Example: “I regret the time we spent without progress, and I’ll ensure we focus more effectively moving forward.”

Tone: Reflective, accountable.

8. “My Apologies if This Took Longer Than Expected”

Meaning: Apologizes for unexpected time demands.

Explanation: Suitable for scenarios where timelines went over.

Example: “My apologies if this took longer than expected. Thank you for your patience.”

Tone: Appreciative, polite.

9. “I’m Sorry for the Extra Time This Took”

Meaning: Recognizes additional time taken beyond what was planned.

Explanation: Effective when a task required more time than originally anticipated.

Example: “I’m sorry for the extra time this took; I’ll make sure to streamline things in the future.”

Tone: Apologetic, professional.

10. “Thank You for Your Patience; I Apologize for the Delay”

Meaning: Combines gratitude with an apology.

Explanation: Suitable when delays or inefficiencies are involved.

Example: “Thank you for your patience; I apologize for the delay on this project.”

Tone: Grateful, respectful.

11. “I Regret Any Time Wasted on My Part”

Meaning: Takes responsibility for time potentially lost.

Explanation: Best for instances where you’re accountable for the delay.

Example: “I regret any time wasted on my part, and I’ll be more mindful moving forward.”

Tone: Accountable, professional.

12. “I Apologize for Any Time that Didn’t Yield Results”

Meaning: Acknowledges lack of outcome.

Explanation: Useful for project reviews or follow-up discussions.

Example: “I apologize for any time that didn’t yield results; let’s regroup to plan better next time.”

Tone: Responsible, constructive.

13. “I’m Sorry for the Unproductive Time Spent”

Meaning: Admits the unproductiveness.

Explanation: Ideal for project managers or team leaders.

Example: “I’m sorry for the unproductive time spent; I’ll work on ensuring a more focused approach.”

Tone: Reflective, sincere.

14. “Please Forgive Any Time That May Have Been Overlooked”

Meaning: Asks for understanding if time wasn’t used wisely.

Explanation: Good for interpersonal or collaborative settings.

Example: “Please forgive any time that may have been overlooked in our last session.”

Tone: Respectful, understanding.

15. “I Take Responsibility for Any Wasted Time”

Meaning: Accepts responsibility openly.

Explanation: Effective for situations where a project or task did not go as planned.

Example: “I take responsibility for any wasted time and will improve moving forward.”

Tone: Accountable, respectful.

16. “I’m Sorry for Any Time That Could Have Been Better Spent”

Meaning: Apologizes for not using time as effectively as possible.

Explanation: Use this when a conversation or project didn’t yield a productive outcome.

Example: “I’m sorry for any time that could have been better spent; I’ll make sure our next steps are more efficient.”

Tone: Reflective, apologetic.

17. “Apologies if This Has Been a Disruption”

Meaning: Acknowledges any disturbance caused.

Explanation: Works well in situations where the other person’s workflow or schedule may have been interrupted.

Example: “Apologies if this has been a disruption; I appreciate your time and patience.”

Tone: Professional, courteous.

18. “I’m Sorry for Taking Up More of Your Time Than Planned”

Meaning: Recognizes the unexpected time demand.

Explanation: Suitable when discussions or tasks exceeded their expected duration.

Example: “I’m sorry for taking up more of your time than planned today.”

Tone: Respectful, accountable.

19. “Thank You for Your Patience as We Worked Through This”

Meaning: Expresses gratitude for patience while acknowledging time spent.

Explanation: Ideal for situations where you encountered unforeseen issues.

Example: “Thank you for your patience as we worked through this. I’ll ensure a smoother process in the future.”

Tone: Appreciative, polite.

20. “I Appreciate Your Time and Apologize if It Was Unproductive”

Meaning: Combines appreciation with an apology for lack of productivity.

Explanation: Good for situations where you want to show you value the other person’s time.

Example: “I appreciate your time and apologize if it was unproductive; I’ll make improvements on my end.”

Tone: Grateful, sincere.

21. “I’m Sorry for Any Unnecessary Back-and-Forth”

Meaning: Admits that repetitive communication may have been burdensome.

Explanation: Best for situations where excessive communication might have caused inconvenience.

Example: “I’m sorry for any unnecessary back-and-forth. I’ll work to streamline our communications.”

Tone: Reflective, constructive.

22. “My Apologies for Any Time That Could Have Been Saved”

Meaning: Acknowledges potential wasted time politely.

Explanation: Useful when reflecting on how processes could be more efficient.

Example: “My apologies for any time that could have been saved in this project.”

Tone: Thoughtful, responsible.

23. “I Apologize for Any Oversights That Led to Delays”

Meaning: Takes responsibility for delays caused by oversights.

Explanation: Effective in situations where delays were due to missed details.

Example: “I apologize for any oversights that led to delays in this process.”

Tone: Honest, professional.

24. “I Regret That We Didn’t Reach the Outcome We Hoped For”

Meaning: Expresses regret about the lack of a desirable result.

Explanation: Suitable for cases where time was spent but goals weren’t met.

Example: “I regret that we didn’t reach the outcome we hoped for. I’ll consider better strategies for next time.”

Tone: Reflective, courteous.

25. “Thank You for Bearing with Me; I’m Sorry for Any Time Lost”

Meaning: Combines appreciation with an apology for any time taken.

Explanation: Ideal for personal or close professional interactions.

Example: “Thank you for bearing with me; I’m sorry for any time lost in the process.”

Tone: Grateful, humble.

26. “My Apologies for Not Optimizing Our Time Together”

Meaning: Admits that time could have been used more effectively.

Explanation: Useful for meetings or calls that went off-track.

Example: “My apologies for not optimizing our time together today.”

Tone: Respectful, sincere.

27. “I’m Sorry for the Oversight That Led to Additional Time Spent”

Meaning: Takes responsibility for an oversight that affected timing.

Explanation: Effective in instances where additional time was spent due to avoidable mistakes.

Example: “I’m sorry for the oversight that led to additional time spent on this matter.”

Tone: Accountable, honest.

28. “Thank You for Staying Patient; I Apologize if This Was a Hassle”

Meaning: Shows appreciation for patience while apologizing for inconvenience.

Explanation: Good for cases where a delay or complication may have caused frustration.

Example: “Thank you for staying patient; I apologize if this was a hassle.”

Tone: Appreciative, empathetic.

29. “I Regret the Time Taken and Any Inconvenience Caused”

Meaning: Acknowledges both the time taken and the potential inconvenience.

Explanation: Suitable for more formal situations where both time and inconvenience need addressing.

Example: “I regret the time taken and any inconvenience caused by this delay.”

Tone: Formal, respectful.

30. “Please Accept My Apologies for Not Meeting Expectations”

Meaning: Apologizes for time spent when expectations weren’t met.

Explanation: Effective when a project or meeting doesn’t produce desired outcomes.

Example: “Please accept my apologies for not meeting expectations. I’ll ensure improvements moving forward.”

Tone: Honest, professional.

Conclusion

When apologizing for potentially wasting someone’s time, choosing thoughtful language can help preserve positive relationships and show you value their time. Using these alternatives allows you to express genuine regret while maintaining professionalism.

These phrases acknowledge the value of the other person’s time and demonstrate a commitment to improvement, making your message both sincere and respectful.