forewent
fȯr-ˈwent 
; foregone
fȯr-ˈgȯn
; foregone
fȯr-ˈgȯn
also -ˈgän
; foregoing
fȯr-ˈgō-iŋ
-ˈgȯ(-)iŋ
: to go before : precede
The story of his mishap forewent him.
fore·go
less common spelling of forgo
1
: to give up the enjoyment or advantage of : do without
never forwent an opportunity of honest profit—
R. L. Stevenson
R. L. Stevensondecided to forgo dessert for a few days
2
archaic
: forsake
Synonyms
Examples of forego in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebMax Greenwood The Charlotte Observer (tns), al, 18 Aug. 2023
Or are people better off foregoing this extra security in favor of keeping their data private?
—Justin Klawans, The Week, 26 July 2023
But the new Marian McLain release foregoes any maritime adventures, and instead just focuses on the art of blending—and the resulting whiskey is quite good.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2023
But he was also allowed to forego certain procedural indignities, including being handcuffed and having his booking photo taken.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Aug. 2023
Though a specific reason has not been given for Sky foregoing the rights to next year’s ceremony, many media companies are feeling the current economic strain and have thus been forced to undergo cost-cutting measures.
—Manori Ravindran, Variety, 9 Aug. 2023
Finally, for a friend who’s foregoing alcohol, bring along a bottle of Snow Chrysanthemum, a floral and delicate kombucha that makes a flavorful alternative to natural wine.
—Ellie Pithers Wei Tchou Alice Newell-Hanson Caitie Kelly Betsy Horan Jinnie Lee Megan O’Sullivan, New York Times, 24 July 2023
This is simply inexcusable: Prosecutors never have an incentive to forego the possibility of filing serious criminal charges.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 July 2023
Wong will forego his final year of college eligibility this time.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2023
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Verb
Trump’s decision to forego the debate in favor of an interview with Carlson, a conservative commentator and close ally, is a blow to Fox News, which is hosting the first debate.
—Max Greenwood The Charlotte Observer (tns), al, 18 Aug. 2023
Or are people better off foregoing this extra security in favor of keeping their data private?
—Justin Klawans, The Week, 26 July 2023
But the new Marian McLain release foregoes any maritime adventures, and instead just focuses on the art of blending—and the resulting whiskey is quite good.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2023
But he was also allowed to forego certain procedural indignities, including being handcuffed and having his booking photo taken.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Aug. 2023
Though a specific reason has not been given for Sky foregoing the rights to next year’s ceremony, many media companies are feeling the current economic strain and have thus been forced to undergo cost-cutting measures.
—Manori Ravindran, Variety, 9 Aug. 2023
Finally, for a friend who’s foregoing alcohol, bring along a bottle of Snow Chrysanthemum, a floral and delicate kombucha that makes a flavorful alternative to natural wine.
—Ellie Pithers Wei Tchou Alice Newell-Hanson Caitie Kelly Betsy Horan Jinnie Lee Megan O’Sullivan, New York Times, 24 July 2023
This is simply inexcusable: Prosecutors never have an incentive to forego the possibility of filing serious criminal charges.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 July 2023
Wong will forego his final year of college eligibility this time.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forego.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Time Traveler
The first known use of forego was
before the 12th century
Articles Related to forego
Dictionary Entries Near forego
Cite this Entry
“Forego.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forego. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
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