forgo

Or fore·go

[fawr-goh]

verb (used with object)

forwent, forgone, forgoing. 

1. to abstain or refrain from; do without.

   Synonyms: forsake, sacrifice, forbear

2. to give up, renounce, or resign.

3. Archaic.,  to neglect or overlook.

4. Archaic.,  to quit or leave.

5. Obsolete.,  to go or pass by.

forgo

/ fɔːˈɡəʊ /

verb

1. to give up or do without

2. archaic,  to leave

Other Word Forms

• forgoer noun
• unforgone adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of forgo¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English forgon, Old English forgān ; for-, go ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of forgo¹

Old English forgān ; see _for- , _go ¹

Example Sentences

Direct admission by itself does not resolve the other reasons students forgo college, however, said James Murphy, director of postsecondary policy at the nonprofit Education Reform Now.

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The index provider has discretion, however, in choosing when and how to make any changes or even to forgo changes, as it happened in June.

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In some families the oldest child would forgo college in order to work so that a younger child could continue his or her education.

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His client was forced to forgo his appellate rights and leave “without really getting a conclusion to receiving justice for what happened to him.”

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“The guy has no money and he chooses to forgo a fee that any other hedge fund takes for granted. It was unheard of.”

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Related Words

• abandon 
• abdicate 
• abstain 
• eschew 
• forsake 
• pass on 
• pass up 
• quit 
• refrain 
• relinquish 
• renounce 
• resist 
• swear off 
• waive