err

UK /ɜː/ US /ɛɚ/

verb 3intj 1

Definitions

verb

To make a mistake.

He erred in his calculations, and made many mistakes.

Artificial tests, then, can hardly err on the side of supplying too many opportunities for one bird to see another perform the act which is the model.

To sin.

To err is human, to forgive, divine.

to stray.

intj

Elongated form of er (“sound of hesitation”).

Err... what did you just say?

Collocations

ADJ.

better, big, easy, liable, live, mean, sorry

VERB + ERR

decided, love, say, tend

ERR + NOUN

human, mary

PREP.

ADV.

hardly, often, once, only, then

Thesaurus

Synonyms

verb — to make a mistake or be incorrect

verb — wander from a direct course or at random

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

to err is human

Everyone makes mistakes.

err on the side of caution

To act in the least risky manner in a situation in which one is uncertain about the consequences.

They are all zealous to the last degree in support of the extreme policy. . . . They certainly will not err on the side of caution.

err on the side of

To behave in a manner which favours or which is biased toward.

Every man would prefer that the woman in whom he feels an interest should err on the side of bigotry rather than on that of what is called liberalism in points of religious belief.

to err is human; to forgive, divine

Extended form of to err is human

Now thoſe that reach Parnaſſus’ lofty Crown, / Employ their Pains to ſpurn ſome others down; / And while Self-Love each jealous Writer rules, / Contending Wits become the Sport of

Example Bank

He erred in his calculations, and made many mistakes.

Wiktionary

Artificial tests, then, can hardly err on the side of supplying too many opportunities for one bird to see another perform the act which is the model.

Wiktionary

To err is human, to forgive, divine.

Wiktionary

Err... what did you just say?

Wiktionary

To err is human, to forgive divine.

Tatoeba · #20868

We are liable to err.

Tatoeba · #28800

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, err is marked as formal, archaic. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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