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Definition of forget verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

forget

verb
 
 
/fəˈɡet/
 
/fərˈɡet/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they forget
 
/fəˈɡet/
 
/fərˈɡet/
he / she / it forgets
 
/fəˈɡets/
 
/fərˈɡets/
past simple forgot
 
/fəˈɡɒt/
 
/fərˈɡɑːt/
past participle forgotten
 
/fəˈɡɒtn/
 
/fərˈɡɑːtn/
(US English also) past participle forgot
 
/fəˈɡɒt/
 
/fərˈɡɑːt/
-ing form forgetting
 
/fəˈɡetɪŋ/
 
/fərˈɡetɪŋ/
Idioms
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    to do something

  1.  
     [intransitive, transitive] to not remember to do something that you ought to do, or to bring or buy something that you ought to bring or buy
    • ‘Why weren't you at the meeting?’ ‘Sorry—I forgot.’
    • forget about something In the excitement I forgot all about my little brother.
    • forget to do something Take care, and don't forget to write.
    • He forgot to mention he was bringing a guest.
    • I forgot to ask him for his address.
    • forget something/somebody I forgot my purse (= I did not remember to bring it).
    • ‘Hey, don't forget me!’ (= don't leave without me)
    • Aren't you forgetting something? (= I think you have forgotten to do something)
    You cannot use forget if you want to mention the place where you have left something I've left my book at home. • I’ve forgotten my book at home.
    Extra Examples
    • Her joy was so infectious that he momentarily forgot his own fears for the future.
    • Oh yes! I almost forgot about the party.
    • He conveniently forgot to tell me he was married.
    • I clean forgot to give your brother the message.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • completely
    • quite
    • totally
    • …
    verb + forget
    • seem to
    • tend to
    • want to
    • …
    preposition
    • about
    phrases
    • forget all about something
    • keep forgetting
    • largely forgotten
    • …
    See full entry
    2.

    events/facts

  2.  
     [intransitive, transitive] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to be unable to remember something that has happened in the past or information that you knew in the past
    • Oh, I almost forgot—there was a call for you.
    • forget about something I'd completely forgotten about the money he owed me.
    • forget something I never forget a face.
    • I've forgotten my user name.
    • Who could forget his speech at last year's party?
    • forget (that)… She keeps forgetting (that) I’m not a child any more.
    • I was forgetting (= I had forgotten) (that) you’ve been here before.
    • It is easy to forget that not all countries have these advantages.
    • forget where, how, etc… I've forgotten where they live exactly.
    • I forget how much they paid for it.
    • forget doing something I'll never forget hearing this piece of music for the first time.
    • forget somebody doing something I'll never forget him sobbing uncontrollably at the funeral.
    • it is forgotten that… It should not be forgotten that people used to get much more exercise.
    Extra Examples
    • Before I forget, there was a call from Italy for you.
    • His pioneering work in the field was largely forgotten until the late 1940s.
    • I'll never forget the expression on his face.
    • You seem to forget that it was your idea in the first place.
    • I completely forgot you were coming today.
    • She keeps forgetting where she's put her glasses.
    • The experience of nearly getting killed is not easily forgotten.
    • a beautiful but almost forgotten corner of North Yorkshire
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • completely
    • quite
    • totally
    • …
    verb + forget
    • seem to
    • tend to
    • want to
    • …
    preposition
    • about
    phrases
    • forget all about something
    • keep forgetting
    • largely forgotten
    • …
    See full entry
    3.

    stop thinking about something

  3.  
     [intransitive, transitive] to deliberately stop thinking about somebody/something
    • forget about somebody/something Try to forget about what happened.
    • Could you possibly forget about work for five minutes?
    • forget somebody/something Forget him!
    • Let's forget our differences and be friends.
    • Forget glasses; soon your computer display will correct your vision.
    • Let's forget last night, shall we?
    • forget (that)… Forget (that) I said anything!
    • forget what… Forget what you've heard in the past.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • completely
    • quite
    • totally
    • …
    verb + forget
    • seem to
    • tend to
    • want to
    • …
    preposition
    • about
    phrases
    • forget all about something
    • keep forgetting
    • largely forgotten
    • …
    See full entry
  4. [intransitive, transitive] to stop thinking that something is a possibility
    • forget about something If I lose this job, we can forget about buying a new car.
    • forget something ‘I was hoping you might be able to lend me the money.’ ‘You can forget that!’
    5.

    yourself

  5. [transitive] forget yourself to behave in a way that is not socially acceptable
    • I'm forgetting myself. I haven't offered you a drink yet!
    6. Word OriginOld English forgietan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch vergeten and German vergessen, and ultimately to for- and get.
Idioms
and don’t (you) forget it
  1. (informal) used to tell somebody how they should behave, especially when they have been behaving in a way you do not like
    • You're a suspect, not a detective, and don't you forget it.
forget it (informal)
  1. used to tell somebody that something is not important and that they should not worry about it
    • ‘I still owe you for lunch yesterday.’ ‘Forget it.’
  2. used to tell somebody that you are not going to repeat what you said
    • ‘Now, what were you saying about John?’ ‘Forget it, it doesn't matter.’
  3. used to emphasize that you are saying ‘no’ to something
    • ‘Any chance of you helping out here?’ ‘Forget it, I've got too much to do.’
  4. used to tell somebody to stop talking about something because they are annoying you
    • Just forget it, will you!
forgive and forget
  1. to stop feeling angry with somebody for something they have done to you and to behave as if it had not happened
    • I know what he did was wrong but don’t you think it’s time to forgive and forget?
    More Like This Alliteration in idiomsAlliteration in idioms
not forgetting…
  1. (British English) used to include something in the list of things that you have just mentioned
    • I share the house with Jim, Ian and Sam, not forgetting Spike, the dog.
See forget in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee forget in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: forget

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alloy
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Physics and chemistry
C2
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