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forgiving

American  
[fer-giv-ing] / fərˈgɪv ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. disposed to forgive; indicating forgiveness.

    a forgiving soul; a forgiving smile.

  2. tolerant.

    The mountain is not forgiving of inexperienced climbers.
forgiving British  
/ fəˈɡɪvɪŋ /

adjective

  1. willing to forgive; merciful

"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

Other Word Forms

  • forgivingly adverb
  • forgivingness noun
  • nonforgiving adjective

Etymology

Origin of forgiving

First recorded in 1680–90; forgive + -ing 2

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.

Would you be more forgiving if you learned Claudius wasn’t a human but an AI agent?

From The Wall Street Journal

The mother is more forgiving and less stern.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was a warm, sunny day and the snow was so forgiving that, to stop, he just needed to dig his heels into the soft slush.

From Los Angeles Times

Investors appear to be in a forgiving mood.

From Barron's

Her brown face, green mantle and forgiving gaze is a mainstay of Southern California: In front yards.

From Los Angeles Times

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.