forget about

USAGE SUMMARY

"forget about" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you would like to suggest that someone ignore a particular thing or situation. For example: "Let's forget about cleaning the kitchen and grab some ice cream instead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Forget about lines.

WikiHow

Forget about the Jitney.

The New York Times

But forget about them.

The New York Times - Arts

"Forget about it, please.

The New York Times - Magazine

Don't forget about me.

The New Yorker

Forget about formalities.

The New York Times

You forget about it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Forget about "American Idol".

The New York Times

"Forget about divorcing me!

The New Yorker

Forget about "outsourcing".

The New York Times

But forget about that.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "forget about" to encourage someone to disregard a minor issue or past event, especially when moving forward is more important.

Common error

Avoid using "forget about" in professional or academic writing. Instead, opt for more formal alternatives like "disregard" or "do not consider".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forget about" primarily functions as an imperative, urging the listener to dismiss something from their mind or consideration. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it's often used to encourage a shift in focus or to de-emphasize the importance of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

35%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "forget about" is a common idiomatic expression used to encourage someone to dismiss something from their mind or consideration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. While versatile, it's most appropriate in informal to neutral contexts, with "disregard" and "ignore" serving as suitable alternatives in more formal settings. The phrase is frequently found in news and media, as well as wiki-based content, often serving to redirect focus or offer reassurance. When using this phrase, consider your audience and the level of formality required for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disregard

Implies ignoring something, often because it's unimportant or irrelevant.

ignore

Suggests intentionally not paying attention to something.

overlook

Implies failing to notice something, or choosing to ignore it.

pay no attention to

A more emphatic way of saying "ignore".

dismiss

Suggests rejecting something as unworthy of consideration.

let it go

Suggests releasing something from your thoughts or concerns.

set aside

Means to put something to one side, either temporarily or permanently, often implying it's no longer relevant.

don't dwell on

Suggests not spending too much time thinking about something.

erase from your mind

A more forceful way of saying to forget something.

push it to the back of your mind

Suggests consciously trying not to think about something.

FAQs

What does "forget about" mean?

The phrase "forget about" is an idiomatic expression that means to dismiss something from consideration, ignore it, or stop thinking about it.

What can I say instead of "forget about"?

You can use alternatives like "disregard", "ignore", or "overlook" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "forget about" in formal writing?

In formal writing, it's best to avoid "forget about" and use more professional alternatives such as "disregard" or "do not consider".

How can I use "forget about" in a sentence?

You can use "forget about" to encourage someone to dismiss a problem or issue, such as "Forget about what happened yesterday; let's focus on today".