ignore

verb

ig·​nore ig-ˈnȯr 

ignored; ignoring

transitive verb

1

: to refuse to take notice of

2

: to reject (a bill of indictment) as ungrounded

ignorable

ig-ˈnȯr-ə-bəl 

adjective

ignorer noun

Synonyms

• bypass
• disregard
• forget
• neglect
• overlook
• overpass
• pass over
• slight
• slur (over)

Choose the Right Synonym for ignore

neglect, disregard, ignore, overlook, slight, forget mean to pass over without giving due attention.

neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

Examples of ignore in a Sentence

She tried to ignore him but he wouldn't leave her alone.

I'll ignore that last remark.

If we continue to ignore these problems they will only get worse.

They ignored the warning signs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Royal Bank of Scotland CEO Fred Goodwin ignored concerns about the £49 billion acquisition of ABN Amro. —Nuala Walsh, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024

Final Message from Doomed Titan Sub Revealed, Sent Seconds Before Losing Contact with the Surface Rush ignored concerns about the weather, and how the currents in the Atlantic, off the coast of Massachusetts, were buffeting the dive platform to and fro. —Adam Carlson, Peoplemag, 17 Sep. 2024

Fox News and right-wing media ignore Trump’s embrace of far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer Billions of dollars are at stake. —Brian Stelter, CNN, 17 Sep. 2024

After ignoring automobiles and fuel, sales at U.S. retailers last month were a touch weaker than economists expected. —Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

obsolete ignore to be ignorant of, from French ignorer, from Latin ignorare, from ignarus ignorant, unknown, from in- + gnoscere, noscere to know — more at know

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ignore

verb

ig·​nore ig-ˈnō(ə)r 

-ˈnȯ(ə)r

ignored; ignoring

: to refuse to notice : pay no attention to

ignored his advice

ignorable

-ˈnō(ə)r-ə-bəl 

-ˈnȯ(ə)r-

adjective

ignorer noun