forgo

verb

for·​go fȯr-ˈgō 

variants or less commonly forego

forwent fȯr-ˈwent  ; forgone fȯr-ˈgȯn 

also -ˈgän

also foregone; forgoing fȯr-ˈgō-iŋ 

-ˈgȯ(-)iŋ

also foregoing; forgoes

fȯr-ˈgōz

also foregoes

transitive verb

1

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

… never forwent an opportunity of honest profit …

—Robert Louis Stevenson

decided to forgo dessert for a few days …

2

archaic : forsake

forgoer

fȯr-ˈgō-ər 

noun

Synonyms of forgo

• avoid

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

The Department of Homeland Security, which announced the change in July, estimated that the new rule could lead about 950,000 people to disenroll from or forgo enrollment in public benefits programs. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026

The money lost in that QO season, as well as the health concerns that come with forgoing the security of a long-term deal, add up to a great deal of risk. — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Monaghan, specifically, kept her complexion even-toned and dewy, forgoing powder on the high points of her face to embrace the shine. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026

Even the palettes forgo traditional mirrors and utilize innovative polished tin. — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for forgo

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

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