What does forgoing mean?
'Forgoing' is the present participle of the verb 'forgo', which means to give up, go without, or voluntarily refrain from something. To be forgoing, then, is to be in the act of abstaining — declining a pleasure, waiving a right, or surrendering a benefit, usually by choice and often in exchange for something considered more important. It appears frequently in business and legal contexts (a company forgoing fees or profits), in health and lifestyle discussions (forgoing alcohol, meat, or sleep), and in moral or sentimental writing about sacrifice for others. The word carries a connotation of deliberate, sometimes admirable restraint rather than deprivation imposed from outside. Writers should take care not to confuse it with the visually similar 'foregoing', which instead denotes what has come before. Rooted in Old English notions of going without or past something, 'forgoing' remains a precise, dignified way to describe chosen renunciation in modern English.
verb (present participle)The act of going without or choosing not to do or have something; the present participle of 'forgo', used in progressive constructions and as an adjective meaning 'that which abstains'.
- As a verb form: actively giving up or refraining from something, especially voluntarily and often for a greater benefit.
- As a modifier: describing someone or something that abstains or does without.
"Forgoing dessert was easier than she had expected once dinner conversation turned lively."
"The airline is forgoing change fees to win back travellers after a difficult year."
"He spoke of forgoing personal comfort so that his children might have better opportunities."
One letter separates two easily confused words: drop just the first 'e' from 'foregoing' and you trade 'previously mentioned' for 'deliberately given up' — a typo that quietly flips the meaning.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of forgoing
Forgoing derives from the verb 'forgo', which comes from Old English 'forgān', meaning to go past, away, or without, formed from the prefix 'for-' combined with 'gān' ('to go'). The verb has existed in English since the medieval period and settled into its modern sense of abstaining or relinquishing by early modern times. It shares this Germanic root with related formations such as 'forgather' and 'forgive', all built on Old English prefixes joined to native verbs. Because it is Germanic rather than Latin-derived, it stands apart from Romance borrowing patterns common elsewhere in English vocabulary.
Related word forms
How forgoing is actually used
Formal to neutral register; common in business, legal, and self-improvement writing where deliberate sacrifice is discussed. The near-identical spelling of 'foregoing' makes careful proofreading essential.
Easily confused with forgoing
'Foregoing' means coming before or previously mentioned, while 'forgoing' means giving up or abstaining from something.