# forgive

/fɝˈɡɪv/ (US) · /fəɡˈɪv/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to pardon a person

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

- I eventually managed to forgive him for forgetting our anniversary.
- 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.

### 2. to pardon an action

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

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

### 3. to cancel a debt

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

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

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

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

## Examples

- I forgive you for being late to the meeting.
- After a long conversation about their misunderstanding, she decided to forgive him and move on.
- While the legal system may demand restitution, the victim's family chose to forgive the perpetrator, seeking personal peace rather than prolonged retribution.

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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.