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
-
tending to forget
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inattentive (to) or neglectful (of)
-
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.
"You remember her as the forgetful mother, right?" said Culkin.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
K Callan, the actor, is having a moment, showered with praise fo her turn as Ruth, the forgetful secretary to Matthew Rhys’ Mayor Tom Loftis, in Apple TV‘s hit horror quasi-comedy “Widow’s Bay.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
About six years ago, Hank became uncharacteristically forgetful and talked about his “fuzzy brain.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 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"He went from being confident, energetic, and present to being withdrawn, irritable, forgetful - and he just seemed to be constantly in pain," she said.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
‘So ends a fair day in wrath!’ he said, forgetful of the lad at his side.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
