forgo

verb

for·​go fȯr-ˈgō 

variants or less commonly forego

forwent fȯr-ˈwent  ; forgone fȯr-ˈgȯn 

 also  -ˈgän

; forgoing fȯr-ˈgō-iŋ 

-ˈgȯ(-)iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to give up the enjoyment or advantage of : do without

never forwent an opportunity of honest profit

—R. L. Stevenson

decided to forgo dessert for a few days

2

archaic : forsake

forgoer

fȯr-ˈgō-ər 

noun

Synonyms

• abjure
• abstain (from)
• forbear
• keep (from)
• refrain (from)
• withhold (from)

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

TikTok remains available -- for now The executive order urges the attorney general to forgo enforcement of the TikTok ban for 75 days, seeking to reassure the companies that maintain the digital infrastructure upon which the app relies. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2025

President Donald Trump was sporting a slightly different look at his inauguration on Monday, forgoing his signature bright red tie. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025

During his senior year of high school, before forgoing college and going straight to the NBA where he would be drafted by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, James was choosing between Nike, Reebok and Adidas for his shoe deal. —Nicolas Vega, CNBC, 17 Jan. 2025

Around the same time, Johnson, a former NFL tight end, was spotted out and about without his wedding band, and Simpson too has been has opted to forgo her ring in recent weeks. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English forgān to pass by, forgo, from for- + gān to go

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

forgo

verb

for·​go

variants also forego

fȯr-ˈgō,

fōr-

forwent

-ˈwent

; forgone -ˈgȯn 

 also  -ˈgän

; forgoing -ˈgō-iŋ 

: to let pass

forgo an opportunity

: go without

forgo lunch