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

The first-grade teacher shot by her 6-year-old student at a Virginia elementary school took the stand to testify Thursday in her civil trial against a former assistant principal, who is accused of ignoring multiple warnings that the boy may have brought a gun to school before the shooting. —Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025

Slashing aid for Colombia ignores the heart of the issue, said Idler. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025

In fact, they’d merely been habituated, the way a bird learns to ignore a rhino. —AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025

The plaintiff’s testimony is at the heart of her $40 million lawsuit against former assistant principal Ebony Parker, who allegedly ignored several warnings about the boy who shot Zwerner. —Gary Grumbach, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025

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