English Reference
Verb

forgo

v.
C1 Advanced US /fɔɹˈɡoʊ/ UK /fˈɔːɡəʊ/ for·go UK spelling forgoes, forgoing

infinitive forgo past forwent past participle forgone

v.to choose not to have or use something, even if you want it. It is a more formal way to say 'to give up'.

v.to deliberately choose not to have or use something; to give up or do without. Often used in formal or literary contexts to describe a conscious sacrifice.


SIMPLE

He decided to forgo his lunch to finish the report.

CONTEXTUAL

The company chose to forgo short-term profits in order to invest in sustainable energy sources for the future.

COMPLEX

By forgo the traditional opening ceremony, the organizers hoped to save time and ensure the event started exactly at noon as scheduled.

Forgoing the Commonwealth Games to prioritise her European title defence, Hodgkinson was further encouraged by her progress on a Portugal training camp before travelling to Birmingham.

BBC News· 15 Aug 2026

This loss of coverage may also lead to even more dire consequences, such as increased hospitalizations that can result when uninsured people forgo basic or preventive care.

The Conversation· 7 Aug 2026

From Middle English forgon (“to go by, pass up”), from Old English forgān (“to go away, forgo”); equivalent to for- + go.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old English forgān
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated