Forget
/fərˈɡet/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo be unable to recall information or experience; to lose awareness of.
/fərˈɡet/
To fail to remember something.
I forgot to call my mom.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're supposed to bring a snack to a party, but you leave it at home. That's forgetting!
👶 For kids: When you can't remember something, like your favorite toy or what you ate for lunch, you forget!
More Examples
Did you forget to turn off the lights?
She forgot his birthday.
How It's Used
"I often forget where I put my keys."
"She's trying not to forget important details."
To intentionally put aside a thought, feeling, or past event; to cease paying attention to.
/fərˈɡet/
To cease to think about or consider something.
Let's just forget about the argument.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone did something that hurt your feelings. Sometimes, the best thing to do is try to forget about it and move on.
👶 For kids: Sometimes, you don't want to think about something sad or scary. That's when you try to forget it.
More Examples
She decided to forget the past.
I'm trying to forget my worries.
How It's Used
"I'm trying to forget my troubles."
"Let's forget about what happened and move on."
To leave something behind, usually unintentionally.
/fərˈɡet/
To intentionally leave something somewhere.
He forgot his keys at home.
💡 Simply: It's like when you accidentally leave your backpack at school - you forgot it there.
👶 For kids: Sometimes, you leave your toys somewhere, and then you forget to bring them home!
More Examples
She forgot her umbrella on the train.
Did you forget to pack your lunch?
How It's Used
"I forgot my wallet at the restaurant"
"She forgot her phone on the bus."
Idioms & expressions
forget about it
Don't worry about it; dismiss something as unimportant or impossible; ignore the problem or issue
"A: 'I can't believe I spilled coffee on your dress!' B: 'Forget about it! It's just a stain.'"
forgettable
easy to forget, not worth remembering.
"The movie was quite forgettable."
From Old English forgietan, from Proto-Germanic *fragetaną, from *fra- (away) + *getaną (to grasp). Cognate with Dutch vergeten, German vergessen.
The word 'forget' has been used in English since Old English times, with its meaning remaining largely consistent throughout history.
Memory tip
Imagine your memory as a file cabinet. When you 'forget,' the file gets misplaced or temporarily unavailable.
Word Origin
"to cease to grasp or hold"