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.
-
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.
Turner said in a 2018 interview with CBS that he had Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder that he said made him tired and forgetful.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
"He went from being confident, energetic, and present to being withdrawn, irritable, forgetful - and he just seemed to be constantly in pain," she said.
From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026
With each passing year, I see and hear the patient’s spiral of worry: Am I getting more forgetful?
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 10, 2024
Instagram and Snapchat were just two of the many platforms that had pledged to help forgetful, regretful netizens save their nominally temporary posts as long-lasting memories.
From Slate • Oct. 6, 2024
All campers who didn’t know their godly parentage were shoved into the Hermes cabin, and since the gods were kind of forgetful, that cabin was always overcrowded.
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
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.
