forgive
6 synonyms and 1 antonym for forgive, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To stop feeling angry at someone and let go of blame for what they did.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use forgive
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
forgive someone for
forgive a debt
forgive and forget
Etymology
From Old English forġiefan, literally "to give up (a grievance)" — for- + give.
Full origin of forgive →Frequently asked questions
What does “forgive” mean?
The word “forgive” means to stop feeling angry at someone and let go of blame for what they did. In plain terms, to let go of anger or blame toward someone, or to cancel a debt.
How do you pronounce “forgive”?
“Forgive” is pronounced fuh-GIHV (/fɚˈɡɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “forgive” in a sentence?
Here is “forgive” used in a sentence: “He asked his friend to forgive him for the misunderstanding.”
What part of speech is “forgive”?
“Forgive” is a verb.
Where does the word “forgive” come from?
The word “forgive” comes from Old English. From Old English forġiefan, literally "to give up (a grievance)" — for- + give.
Is “forgive” a common word?
“Forgive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “forgive” have?
“Forgive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to stop feeling angry at someone and let go of blame for what they did.
What is the difference between "forgive" and "forget"?
To "forgive" means to stop feeling angry at someone and let go of blame for what they did. To "forget" means to no longer remember something. You can forgive someone while still remembering what happened, which is why the phrase "forgive and forget" treats them as two separate steps.
What is the difference between "forgive" and "excuse"?
To "forgive" is to release your anger and blame after a genuine wrong has been done. To "excuse" is to judge that the behaviour was not really blameworthy, or to overlook a minor fault. Forgiving acknowledges the wrong; excusing tends to downplay it.
What is the difference between "forgive" and "pardon"?
In everyday use both mean to release someone from blame, and they overlap closely. "Pardon" also has a formal legal meaning, referring to an official act that cancels a punishment, whereas "forgive" describes a personal, emotional release of blame. "Forgive" can additionally mean to cancel a debt someone owes.
How do you use "forgive" with a person and an action grammatically?
The usual pattern is "forgive someone for something," as in "she forgave him for the mistake." A slightly more formal pattern is "forgive someone something," as in "forgive us our debts." The person is the direct object and the offence follows "for."
