Repent

To repent means to feel sincere regret or sorrow for a wrongdoing. It goes beyond just feeling bad, typically involving an acknowledgment of the mistake, a vow to change your ways, and a commitment to avoid repeating the action.

The concept is most widely used in a religious context, though it also appears in everyday language:

• General meaning: Being genuinely sorry for a past action or mistake, and attempting to correct it or do better next time.
• Religious meaning: Acknowledging the sinfulness of your past, expressing contrition, and actively turning away from sin to realign your life and values with God.