completely forgot

USAGE SUMMARY

"completely forgot" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something was entirely forgotten, or to emphasize how forgotten something was in comparison to other things. For example, "I completely forgot about the meeting until I got the reminder email this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

I completely forgot!

The New Yorker

"I completely forgot about that.

The Guardian - Sport

Some weeks I completely forgot about TV.

The New York Times

"We completely forgot that we were Scottish.

Independent

After we got married, I completely forgot about myself.

The New Yorker

Some completely forgot to say what their products do.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

They want to completely forget.

The New Yorker

I'd completely forgotten it.

The New York Times - Arts

"We have completely forgotten it".

The New York Times

I'd completely forgotten about it.

The New York Times

Has the past been completely forgotten?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "completely forgot" to express surprise or mild embarrassment at having forgotten something important.

Common error

While acceptable in general writing, avoid overusing "completely forgot" in formal or professional documents. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms such as "utterly failed to recall" or "entirely escaped my memory" for a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely forgot" functions as a verb phrase expressing a total lack of remembrance. As Ludwig shows, it's frequently used to convey a sense of surprise or mild regret about not remembering something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "completely forgot" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a total lack of remembrance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for various contexts, though its neutral to informal register makes it less ideal for highly formal writing. When aiming for precision or formality, alternatives like "utterly failed to recall" may be more appropriate. According to Ludwig, the phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, highlighting its general applicability in conveying everyday experiences and oversights. While ubiquitous, remember to consider the audience and context to ensure the chosen phrase aligns with the desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it went completely out of my head

Indicates that the information exited one's thoughts entirely.

totally slipped my mind

Emphasizes the unintentional nature of forgetting, as if the thought 'slipped away'.

utterly failed to remember

Highlights a complete inability to recall, stressing the failure aspect.

it escaped my memory entirely

Emphasizes that the memory left without conscious awareness.

clean forgot

An informal way to express complete forgetfulness.

I blanked completely

Short, informal way to say that one's memory went totally empty.

it faded from my memory

Suggests that the memory diminished over time until it was forgotten.

it didn't register at all

Focuses on the lack of initial impact or significance that led to forgetting.

I had a total blank

Refers to a moment of complete memory loss or inability to recall.

I drew a complete blank

Similar to 'I had a total blank', but emphasizes the effort to remember.

FAQs

How can I use "completely forgot" in a sentence?

You can use "completely forgot" to express a total lack of remembrance. For example, "I "completely forgot" about the appointment until I saw it on my calendar."

What can I say instead of "completely forgot"?

Alternatives to "completely forgot" include "totally slipped my mind", "utterly failed to remember", or "it went completely out of my head" depending on the context.

Is "completely forgot" formal or informal?

"Completely forgot" is generally considered neutral to informal. In more formal settings, consider using phrases like "entirely escaped my memory" or "utterly failed to recall".

What's the difference between "completely forgot" and "almost forgot"?

"Completely forgot" means there was no recollection at all, while "almost forgot" implies there was a near miss but the memory was eventually retrieved. They differ in the degree of memory lapse.