forgo

verb

for·​go fȯr-ˈgō 

variants or less commonly forego

forwent fȯr-ˈwent  ; forgone fȯr-ˈgȯn 

 also  -ˈgän

; forgoing fȯr-ˈgō-iŋ 

-ˈgȯ(-)iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to give up the enjoyment or advantage of : do without

never forwent an opportunity of honest profit

—R. L. Stevenson

decided to forgo dessert for a few days

2

archaic : forsake

forgoer

fȯr-ˈgō-ər 

noun

Synonyms

• abjure
• abstain (from)
• forbear
• keep (from)
• refrain (from)
• withhold (from)

Examples of forgo in a Sentence

She is planning to forgo her right to a trial and simply plead guilty.

I'll forgo dessert tonight—I'm trying to lose weight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Encouraged by his high school teacher to forgo a career in hotel management and pursue acting, Tudyk attended Juilliard. —Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2024

Certain factors cam make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim well, a lack of close supervision, forgoing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water, the CDC said. —Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 28 May 2024

Video How to Decorate a Goth Cake Stolz, who started baking at age 15 as a form of therapy after being bullied in school and developing an eating disorder, isn’t the only baker forgoing the aggressively cheerful aesthetic that has long dominated the pastry world. —Emilia Petrarca, New York Times, 16 May 2024

Initially, Coppola was determined to sell the film himself and forgo working with a sales agent. —Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 15 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English forgān to pass by, forgo, from for- + gān to go

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

forgo

verb

for·​go

variants also forego

fȯr-ˈgō,

fōr-

forwent

-ˈwent

; forgone -ˈgȯn 

 also  -ˈgän

; forgoing -ˈgō-iŋ 

: to let pass

forgo an opportunity

: go without

forgo lunch