forgive

American  

[fer-giv] / fərˈgɪv /

verb (used with object)

forgave, forgiven, forgiving

1. to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.

2. to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).

3. to grant pardon to (a person).

   Synonyms:

   acquit, absolve

4. to cease to feel resentment against.

   to forgive one's enemies.

5. to cancel an indebtedness or liability of.

   to forgive the interest owed on a loan.

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verb (used without object)

forgave, forgiven, forgiving

1. to pardon an offense or an offender.

forgive British  

/ fəˈɡɪv /

verb

1. to cease to blame or hold resentment against (someone or something)

2. to grant pardon for (a mistake, wrongdoing, etc)

3. (tr) to free or pardon (someone) from penalty

4. (tr) to free from the obligation of (a debt, payment, etc)

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Related Words

See excuse.

Other Word Forms

• forgivable adjective
• forgivably adverb
• forgiver noun
• half-forgiven adjective
• preforgive verb (used with object)
• unforgivable adjective
• unforgivableness noun
• unforgivably adverb
• unforgiven adjective

Etymology

Origin of forgive

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

Example Sentences

"It's hard to forgive. Even after a declaration of love in front of the whole world," she said.

From BBC

"It's hard to forgive. Even after a declaration of love in front of the whole world," she wrote to the newspaper.

From Barron's

He would tell her that he forgave her because now he was on his way to everything he wanted.

From Literature

Then that stinker Paulie T. said, “I’m still mad, and don’t think I’m forgetting anything, Ida B. And I’m not too sure about forgiving, either.”

From Literature

Monthly payments are lower than under garnishment, and loans can eventually be forgiven.

From Barron's

Related Words

• absolve
• condone
• excuse
• forget