Word
forego
US/fɔɹˈɡoʊ/
UK/fɔːɡˈəʊ/
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
forego
Past
forewent
Past participle
foregone
Definitions
01to go before
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to happen or exist before something else.
v. to precede in time, place, rank, or importance. Often used in the present participle form 'foregoing' to refer to things previously mentioned.
“The events that forego the main story are explained in the first chapter.”
“The legal team spent hours reviewing the evidence presented in the foregoing paragraphs to ensure no contradictions remained.”
Synonyms
02to give up
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to decide not to have or do something that you would usually have or do.
v. an alternative spelling of 'forgo', meaning to abstain from or relinquish something desirable.
“She decided to forego her morning coffee to save time.”
“The board members agreed to forego their annual bonuses in light of the company's recent financial difficulties.”
Synonyms
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object, which can be a noun, pronoun, or gerund.
Pitfall
She will forego from eating sugar.
She will forego eating sugar.
'Forego' is a transitive verb and takes a direct object without a preposition. One foregoes something, not 'from' something.
Etymology
From Middle English forgan, itself from Old English foregān, an obedient compound: fore- in front, gān to go
See forgo
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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