forgetful
Americanadjective
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a forgetful person.
- Synonyms:
- unmindful, inattentive, absent-minded
-
heedless or neglectful (often followed byof ).
to be forgetful of others.
-
bringing on oblivion.
forgetful slumber.
adjective
-
tending to forget
-
inattentive (to) or neglectful (of)
-
poetic causing loss of memory
Other Word Forms
- forgetfully adverb
- forgetfulness noun
- quasi-forgetful adjective
- quasi-forgetfully adverb
- unforgetful adjective
- unforgetfully adverb
- unforgetfulness noun
Etymology
Origin of forgetful
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at forget, -ful
Explanation
To be forgetful is to be absentminded. When you're forgetful, things tend to slip your mind. People can be forgetful if they really can’t remember things, or if they’re just not paying attention. When you're forgetful, you forget all kinds of things! A forgetful person misses deadlines and forgets about their spouse's anniversary. Forgetful people are often spacy and careless; they're not mindful of what they should be doing. A forgetful gardener might forget to water the plants and go for a walk instead. If you’re late, you’re forgetful of the time. If you’re forgetful, don’t get a pet. Even goldfish need attention!
Vocabulary lists containing forgetful
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.
"Pregnancy places a huge metabolic load on your body," she says, "so you may have less energy and less sleep and feel less alert and forgetful."
From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026
Instagram and Snapchat were just two of the many platforms that had pledged to help forgetful, regretful netizens save their nominally temporary posts as long-lasting memories.
From Slate • Oct. 6, 2024
Uber Eats says it also appears to be a resource for forgetful lovers: Its flower orders are 60% higher than average on the day after Valentine’s Day.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 14, 2024
Professor Margaret Gatz, an Alzheimer’s researcher who’s been at USC since 1979, said she objected to the special counsel calling Biden elderly and forgetful, as if the one guarantees the other.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2024
We stopped the forgetful Chavez a couple of times after that on the threshold of the gym.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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.
