# forgetting

/fɝˈɡɛtɪŋ/ (US) · /fəɡˈɛtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/forgetting
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. failing to remember

verb · CEFR A1

the state of not being able to bring a memory or fact back into your mind.

For teachers: the present participle of 'forget', describing the ongoing or habitual failure to retrieve information from long-term memory.

- I am always forgetting where I put my glasses when I am in a hurry.
- He found himself forgetting even the most basic details of the contract as the stress of the negotiation mounted.

### 2. neglecting a task

verb · CEFR A2

failing to do something you were supposed to do.

For teachers: the act of unintentionally omitting a required action or duty.

- Forgetting to lock the door is a mistake I only made once.
- Forgetting to include the primary stakeholder in the initial email thread caused significant delays in the project's approval phase.

### 3. the act of memory loss

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the mental process of losing a memory.

For teachers: the psychological or cognitive process by which information is lost or becomes inaccessible in the mind.

- The doctor explained that some forgetting is a normal part of getting older.
- The study explores the mechanics of intentional forgetting, where the brain actively suppresses traumatic or irrelevant information to maintain cognitive health.

## Examples

- I am always forgetting where I put my keys.
- She apologized for forgetting the meeting, explaining that her calendar had not synced correctly.
- The protagonist struggles with the gradual process of forgetting his childhood home, as the specific details of the architecture fade into a generic blur of memory.

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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.