Forget: meaning, definitions and examples

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forget

[fəˈɡɛt ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

memory

Fail to remember. To fail to recall information from memory; to suffer from memory loss.

Synonyms

disremember, leave behind.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
forget	Used in general situations when someone fails to bring something to mind or fails to remember something important. It is the most common term for this action. I always forget my keys at home. Don't forget to call your mom.
disremember	An archaic or formal term that is rarely used in modern conversations. It may be used in literary contexts or to add an old-fashioned or sophisticated tone. In my old age, I began to disremember many of my childhood memories.
leave behind	Usually refers to unintentionally leaving an object in a place when moving from one location to another. It often implies physically leaving an item rather than mentally overlooking it. I accidentally left my book behind in the library. She left her phone behind at the restaurant.

Word

Description / Examples

forget

Used in general situations when someone fails to bring something to mind or fails to remember something important. It is the most common term for this action.

I always forget my keys at home.
Don't forget to call your mom.

disremember

An archaic or formal term that is rarely used in modern conversations. It may be used in literary contexts or to add an old-fashioned or sophisticated tone.

In my old age, I began to disremember many of my childhood memories.

leave behind

Usually refers to unintentionally leaving an object in a place when moving from one location to another. It often implies physically leaving an item rather than mentally overlooking it.

I accidentally left my book behind in the library.
She left her phone behind at the restaurant.

Examples of usage

I always forget where I left my keys.
Don't forget to buy milk on your way home.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

neglect

Fail to do something unintentionally; to fail to remember to do something.

Synonyms

omit, overlook.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
forget	Failing to remember something, typically unintentionally. It's commonly used when talking about memory or remembering events, facts, or tasks. I always forget my keys at home. Don't forget to call your mom.
overlook	Failing to notice or consider something, often due to oversight or not paying attention. It can also mean to forgive or ignore something, typically in a gentle or dismissive manner. I accidentally overlooked the last detail. She chose to overlook his mistakes.
omit	Intentionally or unintentionally leaving something out, usually when writing, speaking, or planning. It often implies a deliberate exclusion or a significant error. The instructions omitted an important step. He decided to omit that part of the story.

Word

Description / Examples

forget

Failing to remember something, typically unintentionally. It's commonly used when talking about memory or remembering events, facts, or tasks.

I always forget my keys at home.
Don't forget to call your mom.

overlook

Failing to notice or consider something, often due to oversight or not paying attention. It can also mean to forgive or ignore something, typically in a gentle or dismissive manner.

I accidentally overlooked the last detail.
She chose to overlook his mistakes.

omit

Intentionally or unintentionally leaving something out, usually when writing, speaking, or planning. It often implies a deliberate exclusion or a significant error.

The instructions omitted an important step.
He decided to omit that part of the story.

Examples of usage

I forgot to call my mom on her birthday.
Please don't forget to lock the door when you leave.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from Old English 'forgietan', which means 'to lose memory or to neglect'.
It can be traced back to Proto-Germanic roots where 'gita' means 'to get' or 'to seize' – a negation of holding onto things.
In ancient texts, forgetting was often considered a human flaw or a divine punishment for not paying attention.

Psychology

Forgetting is a natural part of memory, helping the brain prioritize important information.
Studies show that emotions can influence what we forget; memories associated with strong feelings are generally retained longer.
The 'forgetting curve' describes how information is lost over time when there is no effort to retain it.

Pop Culture

The phrase 'To forget is to live' suggests that moving on from the past can lead to a healthier life.
In films and literature, characters often forget their past as a means of character development or restoration.
Songs and poetry frequently explore themes of forgetting love, loss, and the passage of time.

Science

Neuroscience has found that forgetting can be linked with the brain's ability to remodel itself, shedding unnecessary connections.
Certain types of amnesia can be caused by physical damage to the brain, demonstrating the vulnerability of memory.
Research indicates that some forgetfulness can serve as a filter to prevent cognitive overload, allowing focus on the present.

Literature

Forgetting is a powerful motif in many novels, often symbolizing the struggle between past and present.
Notable works like 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' explore themes of memory and forgetting in the context of love and identity.
Poets often invoke the concept of forgetting to express loss, nostalgia, or the bittersweet nature of memories.

Translations

Translations of the word "forget" in other languages:

🇵🇹 esquecer

🇮🇳 भूलना

🇩🇪 vergessen

🇮🇩 lupa

🇺🇦 забувати

🇵🇱 zapominać

🇯🇵 忘れる (わすれる)

🇫🇷 oublier

🇪🇸 olvidar

🇹🇷 unutmak

🇰🇷 잊다 (itda)

🇸🇦 ينسى (yansa)

🇨🇿 zapomenout

🇸🇰 zabudnúť

🇨🇳 忘记 (wàng jì)

🇸🇮 pozabiti

🇮🇸 gleyma

🇰🇿 ұмыту (ūmytu)

🇬🇪 დავიწყება (davitsqeba)

🇦🇿 unutmaq

🇲🇽 olvidar

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,696, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

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