Forget — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /fər-ˈget/ for·get

Meaning & Definition of Forget

Forget (verb)

  1. to lose the remembrance of, be unable to think of or recall
  2. to fail to remember to bring or take
  3. to cease from doing

Forget (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be unable to recall or think of

    "I forget exactly on which street that the house is"

    similar: disremember, unlearn
    related: lose, miss, blank, misremember, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over)
    opposite: flash back (to), hark back (to), harken back (to), hearken back (to), mind (chiefly dialect), recall, recollect, remember, reminisce (about), think (of)
    near: remind

  2. to fail to give proper attention to

    "she promised not to forget her high school friends after she went off to college"

    similar: bypass, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over)
    related: fail, miss, omit, brush (aside or off), reject, shrug off, slough (off), disdain, pooh-pooh, scorn, scant, skimp
    opposite: attend (to), heed, mind, regard, tend (to)
    near: appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value, cultivate, foster, nurse, nurture, pamper, remember, listen (to), watch, follow, mark, note, notice, observe, remark

  3. to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness

    "he forgot the pot boiling on the stove"

    similar: neglect, shirk
    related: slack (off)
    opposite: attend (to), remember
    near: carry out, do, execute, perform, accomplish, achieve, keep up, maintain

  4. to miss the opportunity or obligation

    "I forgot to call on his birthday"

    similar: fail, neglect, omit, miss out on
    related: disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, pretermit, slight, slide, slip, default, skip
    near: heed, mind, remember, keep, observe, carry out, do, execute, perform, practice, discharge, fulfill, meet, satisfy, comply (with)

Related Entry: Forget oneself (phrase)

Forget oneself is a different word from Forget. The synonyms below are for forget oneself, not for forget.

  1. to become very angry

    "She forgot herself when she walked in the room and found a huge mess."

    similar: blow up, flare (up), flip (out) (slang), blow a gasket, blow one's cool, blow one's stack, blow one's top, fly into a rage, fly off the handle, go ballistic, have a fit, hit the ceiling, hit the roof, lose one's cool, lose one's temper
    related: anger, fulminate, rage, rant, rave, snap, snarl, sputter, storm, tee off, vent, vituperate, bristle, burn, foam, fume, glare, glower, seethe, sizzle, smolder, steam, warm, burst, explode, flare (out), flash, inflame, madden
    opposite: calm (down), simmer down
    near: chill out (slang), cool (off or down), relax, hush, quiet (down)

Related Entry: Forgive and forget (phrase)

Forgive and forget is a different word from Forget. The synonyms below are for forgive and forget, not for forget.

  1. to dismiss as of little importance

    "They decided that the argument was over and it was time to forgive and forget."

    similar: blink (at), brush (aside or off), condone, discount, disregard, excuse, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, overlook, overpass, paper over, pardon, pass over, remit, shrug off, whitewash, wink (at), close one's eyes to
    related: explain, justify, rationalize, absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate, waive, wave (aside or off)
    near: heed, mark, mind, note, object (to)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Forget

The most common words with a similar meaning to Forget:

disremember, unlearn, bypass, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over), shirk, fail, omit, miss out on

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Forget

Words with the opposite meaning of Forget:

flash back (to), hark back (to), harken back (to), hearken back (to), mind, recall, recollect, remember, reminisce (about), think (of), attend (to), heed, regard, tend (to)

Related Words for Forget

lose, miss, blank, misremember, brush (aside or off), reject, shrug off, slough (off), disdain, pooh-pooh, scorn, scant, skimp, slack (off), pretermit, slide, slip, default, skip

Near Antonyms of Forget

remind, appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value, cultivate, foster, nurse, nurture, pamper, listen (to), watch, follow, mark, note, notice, observe, remark, carry out, do, execute, perform, accomplish, achieve, keep up, maintain, keep, practice, discharge

Word Forms of Forget

Inflections: forgot, forgotten, forgetting

Derived words: forgetter (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Forget

Middle English, from Old English forgietan, from for- + -gietan (akin to Old Norse geta to get)

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Forget

Words & Phrases Containing Forget

forget-me-not, forget oneself, lest we forget

Frequently Asked Questions about Forget

What does "Forget" mean?

"Forget" means to lose the remembrance of, be unable to think of or recall. As a verb, it is defined as: to lose the remembrance of, be unable to think of or recall. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Forget"?

Other words for "Forget" include disremember, unlearn, bypass, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook and overpass. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Forget" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Forget"?

There are 34 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Forget". Common alternatives include disremember, unlearn, bypass, disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over and slight.

What is the opposite of "Forget"?

Antonyms of "Forget" include flash back (to), hark back (to), harken back (to), hearken back (to), mind, recall, recollect and remember. Near antonyms include remind, appreciate, cherish and prize.

How do you use "Forget" in a sentence?

Examples of "Forget" in a sentence: "I forget exactly on which street that the house is"; "she promised not to forget her high school friends after she went off to college"; "he forgot the pot boiling on the stove".

Is "Forget" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Forget" is a verb.

Is "Forget" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Forget" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Forget"?

"Forget" is pronounced /fər-ˈget/ and divided into syllables as for·get.