forgetful
Americanadjective
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a forgetful person.
- Synonyms:
- unmindful, inattentive, absent-minded
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heedless or neglectful (often followed byof ).
to be forgetful of others.
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bringing on oblivion.
forgetful slumber.
adjective
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tending to forget
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inattentive (to) or neglectful (of)
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poetic causing loss of memory
Other Word 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.
Forgetful fliers keep running into gun trouble, with security having seized three loaded handguns in three recent incidents at Washington-area airports.
From Washington Times • May 23, 2023
I was the unathletic dreamer, book reader and Mr. Forgetful.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2020
Dear Forgetful, Everyone has had the kind of experiences you describe—from forgetting someone’s important family news, to going blank about that hilarious night at the karaoke bar.
From Slate • Jan. 28, 2015
Messrs Bump, Bounce, Forgetful, Quiet, Small and Tall, for instance, simply have to lump it.
From The Guardian • Jun. 2, 2014
Forgetful of me and of himself, he’s turning the pages.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
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.
