verb
forgo
faw-GOH
Forgo (verb) means to choose to go without something, even though you could have it. Example: “They decided to forgo dessert and head straight home.”
verb
1
To choose to go without something, even though you could have it.
"They decided to forgo dessert and head straight home."
"He forwent his usual coffee to save money."
How to use forgo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo deliberately do without something.
Common mistake
Often confused with "forego," which technically means "to go before" but is now widely accepted as an alternate spelling of "forgo."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- forgoes
- Past tense
- forwent, forgoed, forgone
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They decided to _____ dessert and head straight home.
Etymology
From Old English forgān ("to go away, forgo") — for- + go.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “forgo” mean?
The word “forgo” means to choose to go without something, even though you could have it. In plain terms, to deliberately do without something.
How do you pronounce “forgo”?
“Forgo” is pronounced faw-GOH (/fɔɹˈɡoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “forgo” in a sentence?
Here is “forgo” used in a sentence: “They decided to forgo dessert and head straight home.”
What part of speech is “forgo”?
“Forgo” is a verb.
Where does the word “forgo” come from?
The word “forgo” comes from Old English. From Old English forgān ("to go away, forgo") — for- + go.
