forget

verb

for·get | \ fər-ˈget

, fȯr-\

forgot\ fər-ˈgät

, fȯr- \; forgotten\ fər-ˈgä-tᵊn

, fȯr- \ or forgot; forgetting

Definition of forget

transitive verb

1a : 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.

3a : 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

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.

Other Words from forget Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about forget

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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

The actor who has spent the last decade honing his skills in indie fare with auteurs like Claire Denis and David Cronenberg may have moved past his broody vampire beginnings, but the internet never forgets. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "Can Robert Pattinson (or Nicholas Hoult) Save Batman?," 17 May 2019 The gorgeous flowers below Meghan's arms and the royal baby's feet are actually (not coincidentally) beautiful, blue forget-me-nots. — Taylor Mead, House Beautiful, "Meghan Markle Honors Princess Diana in the Most Beautiful Way on Mother's Day," 13 May 2019 For the entire month of May, grab $1 margaritas, and don’t forget to order your usual sampler platter. — Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, "20+ Restaurants Open on Memorial Day That Your Family Will Love," 13 May 2019 Slather any exposed skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has at least SPF 30, and don’t forget to reapply based on the product’s instructions. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "14 Essential Hiking Safety Tips You Should Always Follow," 10 May 2019 Okay, forget Mother's Day; this brown-and-white satchel is on our wishlist. — Rebekah Lowin, Country Living, "Joanna Gaines' Newest Target Collection Has the Most Perfect Mother's Day Gifts," 28 Apr. 2019 According to one theory, Wheezy, forgotten on a shelf, probably became jealous watching Andy play with Woody, Buzz, and the gang all the time. — Stacey Grant, Seventeen, "20 Insane Disney Movie Fan Theories That Will Blow. Your. Mind.," 16 Apr. 2019 The awkward encounter would have probably been forgotten, but then fellow Okie Reba decided to speak out in favor of her home state. — Megan Stein, Country Living, "Reba McEntire Had the Sassiest Response to Miranda Lambert's Public Dig at Blake Shelton," 8 Apr. 2019 But the sacrifice of the seven astronauts who perished that day should never be forgotten. — Margaret Lazarus Dean, Popular Mechanics, "The Oral History of the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster," 28 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'forget.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.