forgo

verb

for·​go fȯr-ˈgō How to pronounce forgo (audio)
variants or less commonly
forwent fȯr-ˈwent How to pronounce forgo (audio) ; forgone fȯr-ˈgȯn How to pronounce forgo (audio)
 also  -ˈgän
; forgoing fȯr-ˈgō-iŋ How to pronounce forgo (audio)
-ˈgȯ(-)iŋ

transitive verb

1
: to give up the enjoyment or advantage of : do without
never forwent an opportunity of honest profitR. L. Stevenson
decided to forgo dessert for a few days
2
archaic : forsake
forgoer noun

Examples of forgo in a Sentence

She is planning to forgo her right to a trial and simply plead guilty. I'll forgo dessert tonight—I'm trying to lose weight.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The price of the base model is kept low by forgoing some amenities, but these are readily available as optional convenience packages. Peter Douglas, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024 My greatest fear is that the public would lose faith in our election process and forgo this very necessary component of maintaining our freedom. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 Despite the massive potential tax savings, Musk may attempt to circumvent the requirement or forgo a major role in the administration, McCaffrey said. Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2024 Environmental and Financial Considerations: PepsiCo’s decision to forgo retrofitting the aging Chicago plant for environmental upgrades or enhanced productivity is a growing trend across industries. Tom Spiggle, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for forgo 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English forgān to pass by, forgo, from for- + gān to go

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of forgo was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near forgo

Cite this Entry

“Forgo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forgo. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

forgo

verb
for·​go
variants also forego
fȯr-ˈgō,
fōr-
forwent
-ˈwent
; forgone -ˈgȯn How to pronounce forgo (audio)
 also  -ˈgän
; forgoing -ˈgō-iŋ How to pronounce forgo (audio)
: to let pass
forgo an opportunity
: go without
forgo lunch

More from Merriam-Webster on forgo

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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