forbear

[ fawr-bair ]

/ fɔrˈbɛər /

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See synonyms for: forbear / forbearing / forbore / forbearingly on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), for·bore

[fawr-bawr], /fɔrˈbɔr/, for·borne

[fawr-bawrn], /fɔrˈbɔrn/, for·bear·ing.

to refrain or abstain from; desist from.

to keep back; withhold.

Obsolete. to endure.

verb (used without object), for·bore

[fawr-bawr], /fɔrˈbɔr/, for·borne

[fawr-bawrn], /fɔrˈbɔrn/, for·bear·ing.

to refrain; hold back.

to be patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation.

OTHER WORDS FOR forbear

1 forgo, sacrifice, renounce.

See synonyms for forbear on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of forbear

First recorded before 900; Middle English forberen, Old English forberan “to refrain from, abstain; spare, excuse”; see origin at for-, bear¹

OTHER WORDS FROM forbear

for·bear·er, nounfor·bear·ing·ly, adverbnon·for·bear·ing, adjectivenon·for·bear·ing·ly, adverb

un·for·bear·ing, adjective

Words nearby forbear

for a song, for a wonder, foray, forb, forbade, forbear, forbearance, Forbes, Forbes-Robertson, for better or for worse, forbid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use forbear in a sentence

But—and I forbear to lead up to it artistically—I dissever myself from your chariot wheels.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
And thou shalt speak my words to them, if perhaps they will hear, and forbear: for they provoke me to anger.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Georgie could not forbear a smile, while Lucy burst into inextinguishable peals of silvery laughter.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Can they stand still when everything is in motion, when everything is stirring, and forbear running whither every one runs?
The 'Characters' of Jean de La Bruyre|Jean de La Bruyre

Nor can any right-minded man forbear his tribute to the good which Socialistic agitation has done.
The Inhumanity of Socialism|Edward F. Adams

British Dictionary definitions for forbear (1 of 2)

forbear¹

/ (fɔːˈbɛə) /

verb -bears, -bearing, -bore or -borne

(when intr, often foll by from or an infinitive) to cease or refrain (from doing something)

archaic to tolerate or endure (misbehaviour, mistakes, etc)

Derived forms of forbear

forbearer, nounforbearingly, adverb

Word Origin for forbear

Old English forberan; related to Gothic frabairan to endure

British Dictionary definitions for forbear (2 of 2)

forbear²

/ (ˈfɔːˌbɛə) /

noun

a variant spelling of forebear

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012