forget

verb

for·​get fər-ˈget 

fȯr-

forgot fər-ˈgät 

fȯr-

; forgotten fər-ˈgä-tᵊn 

fȯr-

or forgot; forgetting

transitive verb

1

a

: to lose the remembrance of : be unable to think of or recall

I forget his name

b

obsolete : to cease from doing

2

: to treat with inattention or disregard

forgot their old friends

He's now a forgotten hero.

3

a

: to disregard intentionally : overlook

—usually used in the imperative

I shouldn't have said that, so just forget it

b

: to give up hope for or expectation of

—usually used in the imperative

as for prompt service, forget it

intransitive verb

1

: to cease remembering or noticing

forgive and forget

2

: to fail to become mindful at the proper time

forgot about paying the bill

forgetter noun

Phrases

forget oneself

: to lose one's dignity, temper, or self-control

She forgot herself because of the liquor she had drunk.

So infuriated him that he forgot himself and had a tantrum.

Synonyms

• disremember
• unlearn

Choose the Right Synonym for forget

neglect, disregard, ignore, overlook, slight, forget mean to pass over without giving due attention.

neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

Examples of forget in a Sentence

I keep forgetting her name.

The pain and misery are impossible to forget.

She forgot how to set up the tent.

I'll never forget the first time we met.

Don't forget that you have to turn off the light when you leave.

“Did you pay the bill?” “I forgot.”

He's now a forgotten hero.

He's a forgotten man in the world of politics.

If you're hoping to hear from him soon, forget it, it's not going to happen.

Forget about finding a way to escape—there's no way out of here.

Recent Examples on the Web

DiCaprio’s character, the actor Rick Darlton, has an over-the-top meltdown over forgetting his lines and trashes his trailer in a fit of rage. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024

Amenities: Restaurants, bars, pool, spa, fitness center, beauty salon, kid’s club, sea access Insider Tip: Don’t forget to book a treatment at the brand new Dior Spa Eden-Roc, which just opened this month. —Monica Mendal, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024

This work will ensure these brave heroes are never forgotten. —Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024

And don’t forget, Riley’s coaching acumen is merely one of two pillars that will support the program’s success during this transition phase. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024

Just don't forget your favorite bikini and sunscreen. —Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024

Lastly, don’t forget to budget for your living expenses after finally closing on your house. —Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024

And don’t forget Kiké Hernández, who is back on the bench for his eighth Dodgers season, seven years after hitting three home runs in a National League Championship Series game against the Chicago Cubs. —Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024

And don’t forget to grab this fabric five-drawer dresser that has racked up more than 17,700 five-star ratings. —Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing forget

• forget-me-not
• lest we forget
• forget oneself

Kids Definition

forget

verb

for·​get fər-ˈget 

fȯr-

forgot -ˈgät  ; forgotten -ˈgät-ᵊn  or forgot; forgetting

1

: to be unable to think of or recall

forgot the address

2

a

: to fail to remember to do something

forgot to call you

forgot about practicing

b

: neglect entry 1 sense 1

forget old friends

3

: overlook sense 3b

I shouldn't have said that, so just forget it

4

: to stop remembering or noticing

forgive and forget

forgetter noun