forget

verb

fər-ˈget How to pronounce forget (audio)
Definition of forgetnext
1
as in to miss
to be unable to recall or think of I forget exactly on which street that the house is

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2
as in to ignore
to fail to give proper attention to she promised not to forget her high school friends after she went off to college

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to neglect
to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness he forgot the pot boiling on the stove

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4
as in to fail
to miss the opportunity or obligation I forgot to call on his birthday

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word forget distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of forget are disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook, and slight. While all these words mean "to pass over without giving due attention," forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

When can disregard be used instead of forget?

While in some cases nearly identical to forget, disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

When could ignore be used to replace forget?

The words ignore and forget can be used in similar contexts, but ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

When might neglect be a better fit than forget?

In some situations, the words neglect and forget are roughly equivalent. However, neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

When would overlook be a good substitute for forget?

Although the words overlook and forget have much in common, overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

Where would slight be a reasonable alternative to forget?

The synonyms slight and forget are sometimes interchangeable, but slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of forget Don't forget to check out yesterday's Best Laptop Deal of the Day for April 15. —Jade Chung-Lee, PC Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025 And, of course, DJ Miss Milan didn’t forget to indulge in some of the delicious wing flavors at the event, including Wingstop’s infamous lemon pepper rub. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 15 Apr. 2025 And don’t forget about yourself: Even a short yoga sequence may be enough to offer similar benefits to taking a walk outside. —Melissa Willets, Parents, 15 Apr. 2025 Don't forget to check out the rest of our outdoor coverage, including the Best Umbrellas, Best Puffer Jackets, Best Running Shorts, and Best Merino Wool Clothes. —Adrienne So, Wired News, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for forget
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forget
  1. miss
  2. ignore
  3. neglect
  4. fail
  5. lose
  6. omit
Verb
  • In two weeks, loan holders will start the process of taking money from the paychecks of borrowers who've missed their payments for 270 days or more.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Early in the fourth quarter, White missed a 3-pointer off the top of the backboard, allowing the Magic to speed forward with the ball.
    — Josh Robbins, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of miss
Verb
  • Wallen briefly hugged the actress but seemed to ignore the rest of the cast and quickly walked past view of the camera.
    — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.
    — Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of ignore
Verb
  • When investing in new technology to enhance the CX, companies often forget or neglect to upgrade employee-facing systems, which can send a negative message to the workplace.
    — Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • No position on the Yankees has been more neglected than third base.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of neglect
Verb
  • Most failed to hit their targets and crashed into the ocean.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Senate Bill 376 by Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, failed to clear the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee in a voice vote with audible dissent.
    — Josh Snyder, Arkansas Online, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of fail
Verb
  • For instance, one study found that after losing a spouse, people tended to neglect their health—eating less nutritiously, skipping meals, drinking more alcohol, moving less, and sleeping less.
    — Kathleen Ferraro, SELF, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Survivors numbered 706, according to the History Channel; 1,500 people lost their lives.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of lose
Verb
  • He was therefore omitted from the side to face Italy, which prompted a huge backlash back home, amid reports that Adhemar Pimenta was simply resting him for the final.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • However, the film omits his wife, Catherine Murray, and his two daughters.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of omit

Phrases Containing forget

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forges
forget
forgetful
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Cite this Entry

“Forget.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forget. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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