ignore
ihg-NAW
Ignore (verb) means to deliberately pay no attention to someone or something. Example: “She ignored his calls for the rest of the week.”
verb
1
To deliberately pay no attention to someone or something.
"She ignored his calls for the rest of the week."
"The company ignored several warnings before the recall was issued."
"He ignored the sign and walked straight into the closed room."
"A problem ignored is a problem doubled."
How to use ignore
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo notice something and choose not to react to it, as opposed to genuinely not knowing about it.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "ignorant" (not knowing) — "ignore" implies awareness plus a deliberate choice not to respond.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
ignore a warning
ignore someone completely
choose to ignore
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- ignores
- Past tense
- ignored
- Archaic forms
- ignorest, ignoreth, ignoredst
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ his calls for the rest of the week.
Etymology
From French ignorer, from Latin ignorare, "not to know" — from in- ("not") + gnarus ("knowing").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for ignore
See all rhymes for ignore →Frequently asked questions
What does “ignore” mean?
The word “ignore” means to deliberately pay no attention to someone or something. In plain terms, to notice something and choose not to react to it, as opposed to genuinely not knowing about it.
How do you pronounce “ignore”?
“Ignore” is pronounced ihg-NAW (/ɪɡˈnoɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ignore” in a sentence?
Here is “ignore” used in a sentence: “She ignored his calls for the rest of the week.”
What is another word for “ignore”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ignore” include brush off, discount, disregard, dissemble, despise and misheed.
What is the opposite of “ignore”?
The opposite of “ignore” — its antonyms — are examine, pay attention, recognize and watch.
What part of speech is “ignore”?
“Ignore” is a verb.
Where does the word “ignore” come from?
The word “ignore” comes from Latin. From French ignorer, from Latin ignorare, "not to know" — from in- ("not") + gnarus ("knowing").
Is “ignore” a common word?
“Ignore” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between ignore and ignorant?
To ignore is a verb meaning to knowingly take no notice of something you are aware of. Ignorant is an adjective meaning lacking knowledge or unaware of something. The difference is deliberate awareness: you ignore a fact you know but choose to disregard, whereas being ignorant of it means you never knew it at all.
What is the difference between ignore and neglect?
Both involve failing to attend to something, but ignore is usually a deliberate choice to pay no attention, often momentary. Neglect suggests a failure of duty or care over time, whether intentional or not — neglecting a garden, a child, or a responsibility. Ignore is about attention; neglect is about care and obligation.
Is ignoring someone rude?
It often is, especially when done pointedly to snub or exclude a person — sometimes called the 'silent treatment'. However, ignoring is not always unkind: people may sensibly ignore distractions, provocations, insults, or unwanted noise to stay focused or avoid conflict. The intent and situation decide whether it comes across as rude.
What is an example of ignore in a sentence?
She ignored his rude comment and carried on speaking. Drivers should never ignore a warning light. He ignored my messages for a week. In each case, the person is aware of the thing but chooses, on purpose, to give it no attention or response whatsoever.
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