verb
-
to give up or do without
-
archaic to leave
Other Word Forms
- forgoer noun
- unforgone adjective
Etymology
Origin of forgo
First recorded before 950; Middle English forgon, Old English forgān ; see origin at for-, go 1
Explanation
The verb forgo means to give up or lose the right to something. The word forgo can be traced back to the Old English word forgān, which meant to pass away or to die, which is sometimes referred to as "giving up the ghost." Perhaps it was this idea of relinquishing something that led to our modern-day use of the word forgo to mean to give up, waive, or forfeit something. For example, someone charged with a crime might decide to forgo the right to remain silent and instead confess.
Vocabulary lists containing forgo
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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.
But Dow cautioned the message isn’t to forgo childcare center regulations, but perhaps it’s to make high-quality childcare centers more accessible and affordable.
From Salon • Apr. 18, 2026
Campbell and colleagues had some participants in a study use ChatGPT to complete a writing assignment, and had some forgo help from the tool.
From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026
Under Friday’s agreement, State Farm agrees to forgo mass non-renewals in 2026 and undergo further review of its rates by 2027.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2026
Grant, wisely, has considered how long he can afford to hold out and how much pay he might be willing to forgo to avoid commuting to Boston or Providence.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026
“We must cleanse our spirits for their coming. We must forgo shifgrethor, forbid all acts of vengeance, and unite together without envy as brothers of one Hearth.”
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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.
