forget

American  

[fer-get] / fərˈgɛt /

verb (used with object)

forgot, forgat, forgotten, forgot, forgetting

1. to cease or fail to remember; be unable to recall.

   to forget someone's name.

2. to omit or neglect unintentionally.

   I forgot to shut the window before leaving.

3. to leave behind unintentionally; neglect to take.

   to forget one's keys.

4. to omit mentioning; leave unnoticed.

5. to fail to think of; take no note of.

6. to neglect willfully; disregard or slight.

---

verb (used without object)

forgot, forgat, forgotten, forgot, forgetting

1. to cease or omit to think of something.

idioms

1. forget oneself, to say or do something improper or unbefitting one's rank, position, or character.

forget British  

/ fəˈɡɛt /

verb

1. (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to fail to recall (someone or something once known); be unable to remember

2. (tr; may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to neglect, usually as the result of an unintentional error

3. (tr) to leave behind by mistake

4. (tr) to disregard intentionally

5. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to fail to mention

6. 1. to act in an improper manner

   2. to be unselfish

   3. to be deep in thought

7. an exclamation of annoyed or forgiving dismissal of a matter or topic

---

forget More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing forget

• forgive and forget

---

Usage

Both forgot and forgotten are used as the past participle of forget : Many have already forgot (or forgotten ) the hard times of the Depression. Only forgotten is used attributively: half-forgotten memories.

Other Word Forms

• forgettable adjective
• forgetter noun
• unforgetting adjective

Etymology

Origin of forget

First recorded before 900; for- + get; replacing Middle English foryeten, Old English forg(i)etan; cognate with Old Saxon fargetan, Old High German firgezzan

Example Sentences

Don’t forget: OpenAI is paying Oracle $60 billion External link annually for five years, starting in 2027, to access 4.5 gigawatts of AI computing.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The BlackFly’s range is just 20 minutes, and you can’t fly over populated areas, so forget trying to speed through your morning commute.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Sharaa said Syria would never forget how Germany had opened its doors to refugees during the civil war.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

There were times when she would forget who people were or where she was.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

I would have widened my eyes and said something in the soft voice that makes them forget who they are – and, more importantly, who I am.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

Related Words

• fail
• ignore
• neglect
• overlook
• skip