forgive
fuh-GIHV
Forgive (verb) means to stop feeling angry at someone and let go of blame for what they did. Example: “It took years, but she finally forgave her brother.”
verb
1
To stop feeling angry at someone and let go of blame for what they did.
"It took years, but she finally forgave her brother."
"He asked his friend to forgive him for the misunderstanding."
"I hope you can forgive me for forgetting your birthday."
2
To cancel a debt someone owes.
"The bank agreed to forgive part of the loan."
"The charity asked the lender to forgive the debt of the poorest farmers."
"My uncle offered to forgive the money I owed him."
How to use forgive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo let go of anger or blame toward someone, or to cancel a debt.
Common mistake
Forgiving doesn't always mean forgetting — you can forgive someone while still remembering what happened.
Common pairings
forgive someone for
forgive a debt
forgive and forget
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- forgives
- Past tense
- forgave, forgiven
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He asked his friend to _____ him for the misunderstanding.
Etymology
From Old English forġiefan, literally "to give up (a grievance)" — for- + give.
Related words
Rhymes for forgive
See all rhymes for 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."
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