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

; forgoes

fȯr-ˈgōz

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

Leaking hydrogen at the base of the Space Launch System rocket, uncovered during a key fueling test, forced NASA to forgo all available launch opportunities this month. —Denise Chow, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026

Winnipeg may have forgone the opportunity to acquire assets for Toews by offering that clause, but management is not likely to pitch him on changing his mind. —Murat Ates, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026

For Ebrahim, a professor at Tufts University’s Fletcher School, the mission statement change is evidence of the company choosing to forgo safety to increase the bottom line. —Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026

The Potomac frame forgoes sharp lines fora curved cutout headboard and tapered posts. —Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 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