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forgive

v.
US //fɝˈɡɪv// UK //fəɡˈɪv// for·give
Irregular verb past forgave past participle forgiven
  1. 1 to pardon a person (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to stop feeling angry at someone who has done something wrong or hurt you.

    to cease to feel resentment against an offender; to waive any desire for retribution against a person.

    Example

    I eventually managed to forgive him for forgetting our anniversary.

    Example

    It took years of reflection before she could truly forgive her business partner for the betrayal of trust that led to the company's collapse.

    Usage

    Takes a direct object (the person) and often the preposition 'for' followed by the offence.
    Pitfall
    I forgive to him for his mistake.
    I forgive him for his mistake.

    The verb 'forgive' is transitive and takes the person as a direct object without the preposition 'to'.

  2. 2 to pardon an action (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to stop being angry about a specific mistake or bad behavior.

    to grant a pardon for a specific act, error, or transgression.

    Example

    Please forgive my late reply as I have been away from my desk.

    Example

    The board was willing to forgive the initial accounting errors, provided that the management implemented stricter oversight immediately.

    Usage

    The direct object is the action or mistake being pardoned.
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  1. 3 to cancel a debt (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    to tell someone they no longer have to pay back money they owe you.

    to remit or waive a debt, obligation, or requirement for payment.

    Example

    The bank decided to forgive the student's loan after the accident.

    Example

    International organisations often debate whether to forgive the national debts of developing countries to stimulate global economic growth.

    Usage

    Commonly used in financial and legal contexts regarding loans or penalties.
Origin

Alteration (due to give) of Middle English foryiven, forȝiven, from Old English forġiefan (“to forgive, to give”), from Proto-West Germanic frageban, from Proto-Germanic fragebaną (“to give away; give up; release; forgive”), equivalent to for- + give (etymologically for- + yive). Cognate with Scots forgeve, forgif, forgie (“to forgive”), West Frisian ferjaan (“to forgive”), Dutch vergeven (“to forgive”), German vergeben (“to forgive”), Icelandic fyrirgefa (“to forgive”), Yiddish פֿאַרגעבן (fargebn, “to forgive”)

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