forgive

[fer-giv]

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.

Origin of forgive

before 900; for- + give; replacing Middle English foryiven, Old English forgiefan

Related formsfor·giv·a·ble, adjectivefor·giv·er, nounhalf-for·giv·en, adjectivepre·for·give, verb (used with object) pre·for·gave, pre·for·giv·en, pre·for·giv·ing.un·for·giv·a·ble, adjectiveun·for·giv·a·ble·ness, nounun·for·giv·a·bly, adverbun·for·giv·en, adjective

Can be confusedcommute forgive pardon (see synonym study at pardon)

Synonyms for forgive

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1. See excuse. 3. absolve, acquit.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for forgive

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

Examples from the Web for forgive

Contemporary Examples of forgive

When a popular Sunni televangelist does it, to forgive is divine.
Disco Mullah Blasphemy Row Highlights Pakistan’s Hypocrisy
Shaheen Pasha
December 21, 2014
I do not forgive those who saw the attacks and have refused to cooperate with law enforcement.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything
Liz Seccuro
December 16, 2014
It turns out audiences will forgive such reports when your movies are good.
It’s Time to Stop Hating Katherine Heigl
Kevin Fallon
November 17, 2014
In the Church of Sorkin, this is the prayer of humility: forgive them, for they know not what they do.
‘Newsroom’ Premiere: Aaron Sorkin Puts CNN on Blast Over the Boston Bombing
Kevin Fallon
November 10, 2014
The second half of Interstellar is basically one giant SPOILER ALERT, so forgive the nebulousness.
‘Interstellar’ Is Wildly Ambitious, Very Flawed, and Absolutely Worth Seeing
Marlow Stern
November 7, 2014

Historical Examples of forgive

I forgive you, if you are sorry for the fault, and my arms are ready to receive you.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
Dearest Madam, forgive me: it was always my pride and my pleasure to obey you.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
Some things seem the harder to forgive the greater the love.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
"I forgive thee from my heart, dear brother," piped the blind man.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
Like a woman, he found it difficult to forgive one who had injured those he loved.
The Man Shakespeare
Frank Harris

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

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.