variants
or less commonly forego
forwent
fȯr-ˈwent 
; forgone
fȯr-ˈgȯn
also -ˈgän
; forgoing
fȯr-ˈgō-iŋ -ˈgȯ(-)iŋ
; forgoes
fȯr-ˈgōz
1
: to give up the enjoyment or advantage of : do without
… never forwent an opportunity of honest profit …—
Robert Louis Stevenson
decided to forgo dessert for a few days …
2
archaic
: forsake
Examples of forgo in a Sentence
She is planning to forgo her right to a trial and simply plead guilty.
I'll forgo dessert tonight—I'm trying to lose weight.
Recent Examples on the Web
As a result of our emphasis on hours over outcomes, workers are under constant pressure to forgo their rightfully earned time off to prove their dedication and commitment.
—Joe O’Connor, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
One final research experiment will take place upon landing, as the crew will forgo the typical medical and mobility assistance normally utilized by astronauts following spaceflight while their bodies reacclimate to gravity.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 13 Jan. 2026
The pair chose to forgo a bridal party and instead had their close friends seat guests and get to know each other during the ceremony.
—Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Beyond that, the deposit requirements may not justify the opportunity cost of forgoing higher yields in a high-yield account.
—Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forgo
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Cite this Entry
“Forgo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forgo. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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