forsake
3 synonyms and 1 antonym for forsake, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To abandon or give up someone or something, often permanently.
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 forsake
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
forsake someone
never forsake
forsake one's duty
A literary or formal word — "abandon" or "give up" is more common in everyday speech.
Etymology
From Old English forsacan, "to renounce or refuse," built from for- (a negating prefix) and sacan, "to dispute or contend."
Full origin of forsake →Frequently asked questions
What does “forsake” mean?
The word “forsake” means to abandon or give up someone or something, often permanently. In plain terms, to leave behind or give up on someone or something, usually for good.
How do you pronounce “forsake”?
“Forsake” is pronounced faw-SAYK (/fɔɹˈseɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “forsake” in a sentence?
Here is “forsake” used in a sentence: “He refused to forsake his family during the crisis.”
What part of speech is “forsake”?
“Forsake” is a verb.
Where does the word “forsake” come from?
The word “forsake” comes from Old English. From Old English forsacan, "to renounce or refuse," built from for- (a negating prefix) and sacan, "to dispute or contend.".
How many meanings does “forsake” have?
“Forsake” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to abandon or give up someone or something, often permanently.
