forsake

verb

for·​sake fər-ˈsāk 

fȯr-

forsook fər-ˈsu̇k 

fȯr-

; forsaken fər-ˈsā-kən 

fȯr-

; forsaking

transitive verb

: to renounce or turn away from entirely

friends have forsaken her

forsook the theater for politics

Synonyms

• leave
• abandon

Choose the Right Synonym for forsake

abandon, desert, forsake mean to leave without intending to return.

abandon suggests that the thing or person left may be helpless without protection.

abandoned children

desert implies that the object left may be weakened but not destroyed by one's absence.

a deserted town

forsake suggests an action more likely to bring impoverishment or bereavement to that which is forsaken than its exposure to physical dangers.

a forsaken lover

Examples of forsake in a Sentence

forsaking most of our possessions, we evacuated just before the hurricane struck

Recent Examples on the Web

But for the past few decades the message to young people was to urge them to forsake manual labor jobs for a college degree. —Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025

This has become a bar staple as more and more of my friends forsake drinking in favor of long-distance running. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 3 Oct. 2025

Tomorrow belonged to individuals who broke the rules, forsaking protocol to act inventively. —Angus Fletcher, Big Think, 29 Sep. 2025

American brands such as Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, and the Row have often forsaken New York Fashion Week to show in Paris or on their own schedules, or not at all. —Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English forsacan, from for- + sacan to dispute; akin to Old English sacu action at law — more at sake

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for forsake

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• eastlake
• handshake
• headache
• heartache

Kids Definition

forsake

verb

for·​sake fər-ˈsāk 

fȯr-

forsook -ˈsu̇k  ; forsaken -ˈsā-kən  ; forsaking

: to give up or leave entirely

her friends have forsaken her