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forget

v.
A1 Beginner Oxford US //fɝˈɡɛt// UK //fəɡˈɛt// for·get General-service Informal Slang

v. to fail to remember something or someone. You use this when you cannot bring a piece of information back into your mind.

v. to fail to recall or retain information in one's memory. Often used transitively with a direct object or an infinitive clause.


SIMPLE

I always forget where I put my keys.

CONTEXTUAL

Please do not forget to lock the front door when you leave for work in the morning.

COMPLEX

While it is easy to forget the specific details of a lecture, the core concepts usually remain accessible if they are reinforced through practical application.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English forgeten, forgiten, foryeten, forȝiten, from Old English forġietan (“to forget”) [influenced by Old Norse geta ("to get, to guess")], from Proto-West Germanic *fragetan (“to give up, forget”). Equivalent to for- + get. Cognate with : * Scots forget, forȝet (“to forget”), * West Frisian fergette, ferjitte, forjitte (“to forget”), * Dutch vergeten (“to forget”), * German vergessen (“to forget”).

Usage

The verb is transitive and can take a noun phrase, a 'that' clause, or a 'to' infinitive as its object.

Pitfall

I forgot my keys at homeI left my keys at homeUse 'leave' when mentioning a specific location; use 'forget' when you simply fail to bring the item.

Idioms5 entries

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