forbear
verb (used with object)
to refrain or abstain from; desist from.
forbears
-
present tense formof forbear (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
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.
Following the trail of these minuscule treasures back in time, Mr. de Waal traced the history of his forbears among the Ephrussis, a Jewish banking family that grew prosperous in the 19th century.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 30, 2026
In a flashback, Lucia explains to Amelia that her forbears were Spanish and Apache, making the young woman’s English heritage a challenge to the status quo.
From Salon ● Apr. 16, 2025
The incredible energetic potential of tides was spotted by our medieval forbears.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2023
Now, the global transition to fully electric vehicles is littered with startups, inspired by a new era in mobility and drawn by the lower cost of building EVs compared with their fossil-fuel-guzzling forbears.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 8, 2022
Like their forbears, they do their best to survive, even thrive—against all odds.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
