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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

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.