What does forget mean?
To forget is to fail to retain or retrieve something in memory — a name, a date, a promise, or a skill — or, in its more deliberate sense, to set a matter aside and stop dwelling on it. The word covers both innocent lapses, like misplacing where you left your keys, and consequential omissions, like missing an appointment or neglecting a duty. Because human attention is finite, forgetting is among the most universally experienced mental phenomena, and the verb appears constantly in everyday speech, literature, and law alike. It carries no inherent connotation of blame: whether forgetting is careless, merciful, or therapeutic depends entirely on context. The phrase "forgive and forget," for instance, treats forgetting as an act of grace rather than weakness. Derived forms such as "forgetful," "forgettable," and "unforgettable" extend the concept into personality traits and lasting impressions, making this one of English's most versatile verbs of mind and memory.
verbTo fail to remember, recall, or keep in mind a fact, event, duty, or person; also, to cease to think about or deliberately disregard something.
- To fail to remember something, either unintentionally or because it has faded from memory.
- To neglect or omit to do something one intended or was expected to do.
- To deliberately stop thinking about or paying attention to something or someone.
"She forgot to lock the door on her way out."
"He completely forgot his mother's birthday this year."
"Try to forget what happened and move forward with your life."
The verb "forget" and the verb "get" come from the very same ancient Germanic root — forgetting was originally conceived as literally 'losing your grip' on something.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of forget
"Forget" derives from Old English "forgietan", formed from the prefix "for-" (indicating loss or negation) combined with "gietan", the same ancient Germanic verb that gave modern English "get". The underlying Proto-Germanic root meant to grasp or obtain, so forgetting was historically understood as losing one's grip on a memory. Cognate forms appear across the Germanic languages, and the word has remained remarkably stable in form and meaning throughout the history of English.
Related word forms
How forget is actually used
"Forget" is neutral in register, working equally well in casual conversation and formal writing. In informal speech, phrases like "Forget it!" can signal dismissal or reassurance rather than literal failure of memory. The passive-sounding "I forgot" often functions as a polite excuse for an omission.
Easily confused with forget
Regret means feeling sorrow over something done or undone in the past, while forget simply means failing to remember it.