forgo
Americanverb (used with object)
-
forgoes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
forwent,
past
-
forgone,
past participle
-
forgoing
present participle
verb
-
to give up or do without
-
archaic to leave
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
forgosimple
-
forgoessimple
-
have forgoneperfect
-
has forgoneperfect
-
am forgoingprogressive
-
are forgoingprogressive
-
is forgoingprogressive
-
have been forgoingperfect progressive
-
has been forgoingperfect progressive
Past
-
forwentsimple
-
had forgoneperfect
-
was forgoingprogressive
-
were forgoingprogressive
-
had been forgoingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of forgo
First recorded before 950; Middle English forgon, Old English forgān ; see origin at for-, go 1
Explanation
The verb forgo means to give up or lose the right to something. The word forgo can be traced back to the Old English word forgān, which meant to pass away or to die, which is sometimes referred to as "giving up the ghost." Perhaps it was this idea of relinquishing something that led to our modern-day use of the word forgo to mean to give up, waive, or forfeit something. For example, someone charged with a crime might decide to forgo the right to remain silent and instead confess.
Vocabulary lists containing forgo
Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Dear Martin
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
The family has even made the call to forgo a trip to Florida this autumn to see Vaughn's parents because the price of gasoline is too much.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
At that rate, California would forgo $2.25 billion, Illinois $743 million and Michigan $549 million.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
In today’s world of news apps and social media, it’s easy to forgo the influence newspapers like La Opinión had.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
That’s not to say that Google will forgo its Gemini ambitions.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
Blanca had to forgo two of their meetings by the river in order for the young men to meet.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
Typically wearing a traditional Caribbean shirt, Cepeda forgoes a tie, which he considers a symbol of oligarchy.
From Barron's ● May 25, 2026
It forgoes the sticky glaze in favor of a deep brown gravy that pools and clings.
From Salon ● Mar. 11, 2026
In Guillermo Cienfuegos’ enlivening, if at times unsteady, production at A Noise Within, the role is played by Ann Noble, who forgoes the outdated hunchback but adopts a seething, slithering, perversely seductive aura of menace.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026
Substrate’s lithography process forgoes what’s known as multi-patterning, or doing repeated exposures on a wafer to make ever-smaller features.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025
She forgoes all of the usual motel thrills, like unwrapping the soaps and hunting for the Bible.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
Cleveland forwent college, hitting the road soon after his high school graduation in 1999, and emerged as an exciting sideman, passionate about bluegrass’s history and quick-witted, too — “a good hang,” as Gill put it.
From New York Times ● Feb. 28, 2023
Petrobras said the war significantly affected its export markets, as Asian buyers received Russian crude that European and North American buyers forwent.
From Reuters ● Jul. 28, 2022
The reaction back home forwent most of the five stages of grief and focused simply on the anger.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 16, 2020
Family Vacation’s first season revolved around the impending fatherhood of Ronnie—whose ex-girlfriend Sammi “Sweetheart” forwent the reboot all together: She was in a “better place.”
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2018
I forwent Supper and walked by the shore of the Charles until I could see Boston.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
The forgone wages and benefits of these retirees add up to an estimated $201 billion annually and the loss of payroll contributions represents a $356 million hit to federal tax revenue, Implan estimates.
From Barron's ● Apr. 29, 2026
The prosecution added that it was not a forgone conclusion the defendants would be deported following these convictions.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
Musk’s existing big public company, Tesla, is a classic example of forgone gains.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
Any forgone tax revenues now would affect our own government, which builds our roads and pays for our defense, education, etc.
From Slate ● Apr. 1, 2025
It was later, after another dinner of plain white rice had been consumed and tea forgone again on account of the drought, after Rasheed had smoked a cigarette, that he told Laila about his decision.
From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini
The Energy Department agreed to formal stipulations in exchange for the plaintiffs forgoing the discovery process, which likely would have meant officials would be deposed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
Are they buying fewer types of green ingredients in particular or just forgoing certain places and brands altogether?
From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026
It would have also meant the government forgoing a contractual right to sue Damen Navel for damages, the ministry added.
From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026
You are forgoing any increases in the stock market and hedging your bets against a severe downturn in the market.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026
I found Hamlet's conclusion unjust, and forgoing my modest manner, I spoke boldly.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
