ignore

verb

ig·​nore ig-ˈnȯr 

ignored; ignoring

transitive verb

1

a

: to refuse to take notice of

I'm ignoring their comments.

b

: to do nothing about or in response to

cannot just ignore the warning signs

2

law : to reject (a bill of indictment) as ungrounded

ignorable

ig-ˈnȯr-ə-bəl 

adjective

ignorer noun

Synonyms of ignore

• forget
• disregard
• overlook
• neglect

Choose the Right Synonym for ignore

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 ignore in a Sentence

She tried to ignore him but he wouldn't leave her alone.

I'll ignore that last remark.

If we continue to ignore these problems they will only get worse.

They ignored the warning signs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Venus in your home zone forms an awkward connection to Uranus in your community sector, making an invitation, friend’s request, or unexpected opportunity harder to ignore. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

The announcement comes as concerns over AI safety, data center power consumption and the risks posed by increasingly capable models are becoming harder for Washington and Silicon Valley to ignore. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026

In the area of immigration, enforcement agents would pursue and deport non-whites who were undocumented, largely ignoring whites who might be in the country illegally. — Richard Davis, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026

Kraft argued that Macklemore’s presentation of the Israel-Hamas war ignored the actions of Hamas and contributed to divisiveness and hate. — Anna Tingley, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

obsolete ignore to be ignorant of, from French ignorer, from Latin ignorare, from ignarus ignorant, unknown, from in- + gnoscere, noscere to know — more at know

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for ignore

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• backdoor
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore

Kids Definition

ignore

verb

ig·​nore ig-ˈnō(ə)r 

-ˈnȯ(ə)r

ignored; ignoring

: to refuse to notice : pay no attention to

ignored his advice

ignorable

-ˈnō(ə)r-ə-bəl 

-ˈnȯ(ə)r-

adjective

ignorer noun