forget

[ fer-get ]

verb (used with object)

, for·got or (Archaic) for·gat [fer-, gat]; for·got·ten [fer-, got, -n] or for·got; for·get·ting.

1. to cease or fail to remember; be unable to recall:

   to forget someone's name.

2. to omit or neglect unintentionally:

   I forgot to shut the window before leaving.

3. to leave behind unintentionally; neglect to take:

   to forget one's keys.

4. to omit mentioning; leave unnoticed.
5. to fail to think of; take no note of.
6. to neglect willfully; disregard or slight.

verb (used without object)

, for·got or (Archaic) for·gat [fer-, gat]; for·got·ten [fer-, got, -n] or for·got; for·get·ting.

1. to cease or omit to think of something.

forget

/ fəˈɡɛt /

verb

1. when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive to fail to recall (someone or something once known); be unable to remember
2. tr; may take a clause as object or an infinitive to neglect, usually as the result of an unintentional error
3. tr to leave behind by mistake
4. tr to disregard intentionally
5. when tr, may take a clause as object to fail to mention
6. forget oneself
   1. to act in an improper manner
   2. to be unselfish
   3. to be deep in thought
7. forget it!
   an exclamation of annoyed or forgiving dismissal of a matter or topic

Usage Note

Both forgot and forgotten are used as the past participle of forget : Many have already forgot (or forgotten ) the hard times of the Depression. Only forgotten is used attributively: half-forgotten memories.

Derived Forms

• forˈgetter, noun
• forˈgettable, adjective

Other Words From

• for·getta·ble adjective
• for·getter noun
• unfor·getting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of forget¹

First recorded before 900; for- + get; replacing Middle English foryeten, Old English forg(i)etan; cognate with Old Saxon fargetan, Old High German firgezzan

Word History and Origins

Origin of forget¹

Old English forgietan ; related to Old Frisian forgeta , Old Saxon fargetan , Old High German firgezzan

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. forget oneself, to say or do something improper or unbefitting one's rank, position, or character.

More idioms and phrases containing forget

In addition to the idiom beginning with forget , also see forgive and forget .

Example Sentences

The day they spent, exhausted together on the crossroads of here and gone, is the kind of convergence they make movies about, so we forget it really happened.

From Los Angeles Times

I won’t forget such cruelty, but in my struggle to stay engaged, I will seek out humor as needed.

From Los Angeles Times

Now, with smartphones and a nearly limitless storage supply, Mayer-Schönberger says it takes much “more time and effort” to simply forget.

From Slate

But not knowing when these memory prompts are going to appear in front of us can hamper our ability to forget.

From Slate

“Our brain is designed to forget, and with good reason,” he says.

From Slate

Related Words

• fail
• ignore
• neglect
• overlook
• skip