forgetful
Americanadjective
-
a forgetful person.
- Synonyms:
- unmindful, inattentive, absent-minded
-
heedless or neglectful (often followed byof ).
to be forgetful of others.
-
bringing on oblivion.
forgetful slumber.
adjective
-
tending to forget
-
inattentive (to) or neglectful (of)
-
poetic causing loss of memory
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of forgetful
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at forget, -ful
Explanation
To be forgetful is to be absentminded. When you're forgetful, things tend to slip your mind. People can be forgetful if they really can’t remember things, or if they’re just not paying attention. When you're forgetful, you forget all kinds of things! A forgetful person misses deadlines and forgets about their spouse's anniversary. Forgetful people are often spacy and careless; they're not mindful of what they should be doing. A forgetful gardener might forget to water the plants and go for a walk instead. If you’re late, you’re forgetful of the time. If you’re forgetful, don’t get a pet. Even goldfish need attention!
Vocabulary lists containing forgetful
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.
He’s raced to find ivory shoes for a forgetful groomsman and led a prayer to calm a jittery future husband.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
He was forgetful and disorganised and would need guidance making plans, she said.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
Maybe he was wounded, misidentified, forgetful of who he was.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 8, 2024
Instagram and Snapchat were just two of the many platforms that had pledged to help forgetful, regretful netizens save their nominally temporary posts as long-lasting memories.
From Slate • Oct. 6, 2024
I have never felt like this—slow-witted and languorous, dreamy, absentminded, forgetful, focused only on each moment as it comes.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
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.
