I forgot him

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "I forgot him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this sentence in any context when you want to indicate that you don't remember something about a person. For example, "I met John yesterday, but I forgot him after a few hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The minute he left I forgot him.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And if I forget him, I may become like the grown-ups...."....

The New York Times

I can't bring back Trayvon Martin, nor can I forget him.

Huffington Post

"I was never able to hire that kid, I never saw him again, I feel so bad, but I never forgot him," he added.

Huffington Post

"My dad was a hunter, and though I was never into that myself, I never forgot him explaining to me that the way you track your prey is though its crap.

Forbes

"I have forgot him.

The New Yorker

His mind was as unfettered as his feet and I never forgot him or the freedom he exuded.

Huffington Post

I wish I could forget him".

The New Yorker

"I told him we never forgot him, never," she said, surrounded by two brothers and a sister.

The New York Times

I forgot about him until about a year ago when I came across some videos of him talking about the importance of "The Twist".

Vice

I'd forgotten him.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I forgot him" when you want to convey a straightforward lack of memory about a person. It's direct and easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "I forgot him" when you mean to say you left him somewhere. "Forget" refers to a mental state, while "leave" refers to a physical action. For example, say "I left him at the store", not "I forgot him at the store".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I forgot him" functions as a declarative statement expressing a past lack of memory or recall regarding a specific individual. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable sentence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I forgot him" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate a lack of memory or recall regarding a person. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While straightforward, it's important to consider the context to avoid potential rudeness. Alternatives such as "he slipped my mind" or "I don't recall him" might be more appropriate in sensitive situations. The phrase is frequently found in news and media contexts. Remember to distinguish between forgetting someone (mental state) and leaving them (physical action).

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I don't recall him

A straightforward statement of not being able to remember someone.

He slipped my mind

This implies a temporary lapse in memory, where the person was not actively forgotten, but simply not thought of.

I lost track of him

This suggests a gradual fading from memory due to lack of contact or relevance.

I disremembered him

A less common, but valid, way of saying that someone was forgotten.

He faded from my memory

Indicates a more passive process where the memory gradually becomes less clear.

I can't bring him to mind

Emphasizes the effort to remember someone but being unable to do so.

He's not in my thoughts anymore

Suggests that the person is no longer a part of the speaker's consciousness.

I haven't thought about him in ages

Focuses on the long period of time since the person was last remembered.

He's a distant memory

Implies that the person is remembered, but only vaguely and from a long time ago.

I blanked on his name

Specifically refers to forgetting someone's name, rather than the person themselves.

FAQs

What does it mean to say "I forgot him"?

Saying "I forgot him" means that you no longer remember a particular person or have ceased to think about them.

Is it better to say "I forgot him" or "I've forgotten him"?

Both "I forgot him" and "I've forgotten him" are grammatically correct. "I forgot him" is simple past tense and refers to a specific instance in the past. "I've forgotten him" is present perfect and implies a state of having forgotten that continues to the present.

What can I say instead of "I forgot him"?

You can use alternatives like "he slipped my mind", "I lost track of him", or "I don't recall him" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it rude to tell someone "I forgot him"?

It can potentially be rude depending on the context and your relationship with the person you're speaking to. It's generally better to phrase it more gently, such as "His name escapes me at the moment" or "I'm having trouble remembering him right now".