forgo

verb

for·​go fȯr-ˈgō 

variants or less commonly forego

forwent fȯr-ˈwent  ; forgone fȯr-ˈgȯn 

 also  -ˈgän

; forgoing fȯr-ˈgō-iŋ 

-ˈgȯ(-)iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to give up the enjoyment or advantage of : do without

never forwent an opportunity of honest profit

—R. L. Stevenson

decided to forgo dessert for a few days

2

archaic : forsake

forgoer

fȯr-ˈgō-ər 

noun

Synonyms

• abjure
• abstain (from)
• forbear
• keep (from)
• refrain (from)
• withhold (from)

Examples of forgo in a Sentence

She is planning to forgo her right to a trial and simply plead guilty.

I'll forgo dessert tonight—I'm trying to lose weight.

Recent Examples on the Web

On Palm Sunday — a week before Easter — millions around the globe watched as Francis, at the last minute, decided to forgo delivery of his homily. —Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024

The Schitt’s Creek star forgoes Mykonos or Santorini for life on the tiny Greek island of Milos. —Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Mar. 2024

Patients facing an emergency procedure can forgo these requirements, but those scenarios are rare. —Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 29 Mar. 2024

Sony’s lawsuit took a bizarre detour last year when Judge Pittman ruled that the label could forgo traditional methods of contacting Trefuego and instead simply send him direct messages on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Soundcloud. —Bill Donahue, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2024

Instead, the crowd outside and all of those tuning in heard Francis breathing and the wind blowing over the square, as the pope, 87, decided at the last moment to forgo the homily, the sermon that is central to the service, and remain silent. —Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024

This has also come at a time when young people are increasingly forgoing work. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 20 Mar. 2024

Those who drink no more than a couple of glasses of red wine a day, like Sardinian centenarians, may even live longer than those who forgo alcohol completely. —Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2024

Officials feared company promotions could mislead parents and even persuade mothers to forgo breastfeeding, depriving their children of the vital health benefits that come with it. —Heather Vogell, ProPublica, 21 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English forgān to pass by, forgo, from for- + gān to go

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

forgo

verb

for·​go

variants also forego

fȯr-ˈgō,

fōr-

forwent

-ˈwent

; forgone -ˈgȯn 

 also  -ˈgän

; forgoing -ˈgō-iŋ 

: to let pass

forgo an opportunity

: go without

forgo lunch