# forgiven

/fɝˈɡɪvən/ (US) · /fəɡˈɪvən/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/forgiven
Updated: 2026-05-03

## Definition

to stop feeling angry at someone who did something wrong to you. It means you decide to move on and not punish them.

For teachers: the past participle of 'forgive', meaning to cease to feel resentment against an offender. Often used in passive constructions or perfect tenses to indicate the absolution of a debt or mistake.

## Examples

- I have forgiven him for his mistake.
- She felt much lighter after she had finally forgiven her brother for losing her favorite book.
- While the debt was legally forgiven by the bank, the emotional toll of the bankruptcy remained a heavy burden for the family for many years to follow.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I have forgave him" but "I have forgiven him" — Learners often confuse the simple past 'forgave' with the past participle 'forgiven' in perfect tenses.

## Usage notes

- The past participle of the irregular verb 'forgive'. Often takes the preposition 'for' to indicate the reason for the pardon.

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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.