# forget

/fɝˈɡɛt/ (US) · /fəɡˈɛt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/forget
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to fail to recall

verb · CEFR A1

to be unable to remember a fact, a name, or an event.

For teachers: to lose remembrance of information or to be unable to retrieve a memory from the mind.

- I always forget her phone number, so I have to look it up.
- He had completely forgotten the details of the conversation until his colleague showed him the meeting minutes from the previous month.

Usage: Often used in the present perfect ('I have forgotten') or the simple past ('I forgot').

### 2. to leave behind

verb · CEFR A2

to leave something somewhere because you were not thinking about it.

For teachers: to unintentionally leave an object in a location due to a lapse in attention.

- I forgot my umbrella on the bus this morning.
- In her haste to catch the early train, she forgot her briefcase on the kitchen counter, necessitating a stressful return trip.

Usage: Usually takes a direct object representing the item left behind.

### 3. to neglect a task

verb · CEFR A2

to fail to do something you were supposed to do.

For teachers: to unintentionally omit or neglect a planned action or duty.

- Don't forget to lock the door when you leave the house.
- The intern forgot to include the updated financial projections in the final report, which led to a confusing presentation for the board.

Usage: Commonly followed by a 'to' infinitive.

Teaching tip: Contrast 'forget to do' (omission of action) with 'forget doing' (loss of memory of a past event) for B1+ students.

### 4. to stop thinking about

verb · CEFR B1

to stop thinking about someone or something, often to move on from a bad situation.

For teachers: to deliberately cease thinking about or being affected by a person, event, or emotion.

- It took him a long time to forget his old boss and enjoy his new job.
- After the legal dispute was settled, both parties agreed to forget their past grievances and attempt a professional collaboration.

## Examples

- I always forget where I put my keys.
- Please do not forget to lock the front door when you leave for work in the morning.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.