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definitions

forgive

[fer-giv]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR forgive ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), for·gave, for·giv·en, for·giv·ing.

to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).
to grant pardon to (a person).
to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one's enemies.
to cancel an indebtedness or liability of: to forgive the interest owed on a loan.

verb (used without object), for·gave, for·giv·en, for·giv·ing.

to pardon an offense or an offender.

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RELATED WORDS

excuse, condone, forget, absolve, efface, purge, acquit, amnesty, palliate, spring, clear, overlook, remit, pocket, relent, commute, respite, exempt, release, exculpate

Nearby words

  1. forgetive,
  2. forgettable,
  3. forgettery,
  4. forging,
  5. forgivable,
  6. forgive and forget,
  7. forgiveness,
  8. forgiving,
  9. forgo,
  10. forgot

Origin of forgive

before 900; for- + give; replacing Middle English foryiven, Old English forgiefan
SYNONYMS FOR forgive
1. See excuse. 3. absolve, acquit.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR forgive ON THESAURUS.COM
Related forms
Can be confusedcommute forgive pardon (see synonym study at pardon)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for forgive

British Dictionary definitions for forgive

forgive

verb -gives, -giving, -gave or -given

to cease to blame or hold resentment against (someone or something)
to grant pardon for (a mistake, wrongdoing, etc)
(tr) to free or pardon (someone) from penalty
(tr) to free from the obligation of (a debt, payment, etc)
Derived Formsforgivable, adjectiveforgivably, adverbforgiver, noun

Word Origin for forgive

Old English forgiefan; see for-, give
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
Word Origin and History for forgive

forgive

v.

Old English forgiefan "give, grant, allow; forgive," also "to give up" and "to give in marriage;" from for- "completely" + giefan "give" (see give).

The modern sense of "to give up desire or power to punish" is from use of the compound as a Germanic loan-translation of Latin perdonare (cf. Old Saxon fargeban, Dutch vergeven, German vergeben, Gothic fragiban; see pardon). Related: Forgave; forgiven; forgiving.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper