forget

/fəˈɡɛt/
verb★Beginner
◆ What It Really Means
To intentionally or unintentionally disregard something or someone.
Literal Meaning
To fail to retain information in one's memory.
Literal Breakdown
for-Completely or thoroughly.+-getTo grasp or seize (originally).
◇ Mental Image
The mental image of something slipping away from one's mind.
◈ When to Use
A person might say, 'I forgot your birthday,' meaning they did not remember it, not that they intentionally ignored it.
◉ Cultural Note
The concept of forgetting is universal and often tied to memory and human fallibility.
formalinformal

To fail to remember something or someone.

I always forget where I put my keys.

I often forget my password.

💡

Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

informal

To neglect or fail to do something.

Don't forget to call your mother.

He forgot to pay his bills.

💡

Often used in reminders or instructions.

Collocations

forget aboutTo stop thinking about something or someone.forget toTo fail to do something.forget itTo dismiss something as unimportant or to give up.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

forget-me-notphrase
A small blue flower, or a reminder to remember something.
forget your troublesphrase
To stop worrying about problems.

💡Pro Tip

Common Mistakes

Avoid using 'forget' with the preposition 'of' (e.g., 'forget of my name' is incorrect).

⚡Gold Rule

Usage with Prepositions

Use 'forget about' for things and 'forget to' for actions.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'forgeten', from Old English 'forgietan', from Proto-Germanic 'fragétan' (to forget).

📝Usage Notes

Can be used in both transitive and intransitive forms. Often followed by 'about' or 'to' when referring to actions.

Word Breakdown

for-
A prefix meaning 'completely' or 'thoroughly'.
prefix
+
-get
From Old English 'gietan' (to grasp or seize).
root
English Dictionary