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

Bramlett is part of a broader push to tell the stories of those who made Washington's success possible but were long ignored. — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 27 June 2026

Contrarian Investing Becomes Obvious Too Late The market eventually changes its mind when the evidence becomes difficult to ignore. — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

Academics who promoted Paleolithic nutrition in the 1980s called for plenty of plant foods in the diet and ignored Voegtlin, perhaps on account of his endorsement of eugenics. — David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026

After years of exam leaks, persistently high youth unemployment, and opportunities slipping further out of reach, their simmering frustration is sparking a demand for accountability that many say can no longer be ignored. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 26 June 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