ignore
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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ignorernoun
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ignorableadjective
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well-ignoredadjective
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unignoringadjective
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unignorablyadverb
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unignoredadjective
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unignorableadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has ignoredperfect 3rd person singular
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have ignoredperfect
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have been ignoringperfect progressive
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ignoringparticiple
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are ignoringprogressive
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is ignoringprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been ignoringperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am ignoringprogressive 1st person singular
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ignoressingular 3rd person
Past
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had ignoredperfect
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were ignoringprogressive plural
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ignoredparticiple
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ignoredsimple
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had been ignoringperfect progressive
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was ignoringprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of ignore
First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin ignōrāre “to not know, disregard,” verb derivative of ignārus “ignorant, unaware” (with -ō- perhaps from ignōtus “unknown”), equivalent to in- in- 3 + gnārus “knowing, acquainted (with)”; akin to (g)nōscere “to know 1 ”
Explanation
To ignore something is to disregard it. If you ignore the rules of grammar, you're likely to be misunderstood. It's easy to see the relationship between ignore and a word such as ignorant. To be ignorant of something is to know nothing about it. A good way to be ignorant about something is to ignore it. In other words, if you want to be ignorant about a certain subject—that is, if you want to know nothing about it—then by all means ignore it. Pay it no mind.
Vocabulary lists containing ignore
Michelle Obama's Speech at the 2016 DNC
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Sula
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"Indian Summer Sun" and "Almost Evenly Divided"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ignore regulatory reform, and the Fed risks overly tight policy, he warned.
From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026
BRUSSELS—NATO military chiefs are on a daunting mission: Ignore the news.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026
Our best advice remains the same it’s always been: Ignore them.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 24, 2025
Mandy Stadmiller writes a Substack called Ignore Previous Directions, which focuses on “how to thrive and survive in the creator economy with AI”.
From BBC • Jul. 24, 2024
Ignore the safety pin, they said, it will only slow you down.
From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
