variants
or less commonly forego
forwent
fȯr-ˈwent 
; forgone
fȯr-ˈgȯn
; forgone
fȯr-ˈgȯn
also -ˈgän
; forgoing
fȯr-ˈgō-iŋ
-ˈgȯ(-)iŋ
1
: to give up the enjoyment or advantage of : do without
never forwent an opportunity of honest profit—
R. L. Stevenson
R. L. Stevensondecided 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
So where his opening sketch might have traditionally given way to a stand-up monologue, Bargatze opted to forgo it and cut straight to his logistical duties as master of ceremonies.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
For the men in attendance, this meant open collars galore — from the respectable (see Jake Gyllenhaal and Pedro Pascal dropping a single top button of their Prada and Celine suits, respectively) to the veritably plunging (Walton Goggins forgoing the top three buttons of his Louis Vuitton shirt).
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
The one-time Iron Range rising star was a congressman from 1975 to 1981 but decided to forgo reelection just as Ronald Reagan was winning the presidency.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Kirk’s zeal caught the attention of Bill Montgomery, a businessman and Tea Party activist, who urged him to forgo college and dedicate himself fully to political organizing.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forgo
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Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
For the men in attendance, this meant open collars galore — from the respectable (see Jake Gyllenhaal and Pedro Pascal dropping a single top button of their Prada and Celine suits, respectively) to the veritably plunging (Walton Goggins forgoing the top three buttons of his Louis Vuitton shirt).
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
The one-time Iron Range rising star was a congressman from 1975 to 1981 but decided to forgo reelection just as Ronald Reagan was winning the presidency.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Kirk’s zeal caught the attention of Bill Montgomery, a businessman and Tea Party activist, who urged him to forgo college and dedicate himself fully to political organizing.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forgo
Cite this Entry
“Forgo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forgo. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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