ignore

American  

[ig-nawr, -nohr] / ɪgˈnɔr, -ˈnoʊr /

verb (used with object)

ignored, ignoring

1. to refrain from noticing or recognizing.

   to ignore insulting remarks.

   Synonyms:

   overlook, neglect, disregard, slight

   Antonyms:

   regard, notice

2. Law. (of a grand jury) to reject (a bill of indictment), as on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

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ignore British  

/ ɪɡˈnɔː /

verb

1. to fail or refuse to notice; disregard

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noun

1. informal disregard

   to treat someone with ignore

Other Word Forms

• ignorable adjective
• ignorer noun
• unignorable adjective
• unignorably adverb
• unignored adjective
• unignoring adjective
• well-ignored adjective

Etymology

Origin of ignore

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin ignōrāre “to not know, disregard,” verb derivative of ignārus “ignorant, unaware” (with -ō- perhaps from ignōtus “unknown”), equivalent to in- in- ³ + gnārus “knowing, acquainted (with)”; akin to (g)nōscere “to know ¹ ”

Example Sentences

“There are serious consequences when you choose to ignore the law you swore to uphold.”

From Los Angeles Times

The library was housed in the top floors of the Metropolitan Building, but I avoided the elevators and took the stairs down the eight flights to ground level, ignoring the still-raw blisters on my feet.

From Literature

“I don’t know. It’s that—for two months I’ve been back and I’ve been doing nothing but trying to ignore everything that happened over there,” I say finally.

From Literature

Next to be snubbed was Raleigh’s teammate Josh Naylor, who was ignored by the catcher when the U.S. squared off against Naylor’s Team Canada.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bill Plaschke used to ignore the World Baseball Classic, but he has been wowed by the dramatic tournament that feels bigger than the World Series.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• avoid
• discount
• fail
• forget
• neglect
• overlook
• reject
• scorn