forgo

USAGE SUMMARY

"forgo" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a verb which means to choose not to do something, go without, or do without. For example: Knowing the health risks, she decided to forgo smoking cigarettes.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But why forgo indulging in all the frippery the boutiques have to offer, with their work-of-art interiors and over-the-top tissue paper and ribbons, in favour of scrabbling about for last season's cast-offs?

The Guardian - Travel

The chief executive, David Higgins, who earns £560,000, announced in February that he and other board members would forgo any bonus in 2012 amid rail performance issues, although it came after pressure from the transport secretary, Justine Greening, and wider public anger over bonus culture in general.

The Guardian - Business

You can swap in dark chocolate if you've less of a sweet tooth, or forgo the chocolate altogether if you're a purist in these things.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I had to forgo washing in the morning a few times because the meter had run out overnight It wasn't until I had sat through six hours of hold music – none of the energy companies wanted to take responsibility for our situation – that we realised the installation had been triggered by a £1,000 debt on the previous tenants' account.

The Guardian

There were calls for Diamond to step down after the Financial Services Authority slapped a £59.5m fine on the bank – the largest ever levied by the City regulator - forcing him and other top executives to forgo any bonuses for 2012.

The Guardian - Business

Certain modern conveniences have been easy to forgo.

The Guardian - Travel

He was a shoo-in for education secretary after the election, but immediately took to Andrew Marr's sofa to declare that he would happily forgo his cabinet seat to make space for Lib Dems, suggesting David Laws could do the job well.

The Guardian

For others, the taxpayer agreed to forgo 40% tax.

The Guardian - Money

Walking 10 minutes to the shop wasn't a huge inconvenience for me, but I had to forgo washing in the morning a few times because the meter had run out overnight, meaning we were left with ice-cold water.

The Guardian

Jowell once told me that when her kids were small she would forgo sleep and work through the night just to claw back time with them the next day.

The Guardian - Opinion

In a separate interview with ABC TV, Hockey continued the theme of people needing to forgo discretionary purchases, suggesting they should "prepared to give up a couple of cups of coffee" to take a sick child to the doctor.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "forgo", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being given up and the reason for doing so, to avoid ambiguity. For example, "They decided to forgo dessert to reduce their sugar intake."

Common error

While "forgo" is versatile, be mindful of its slightly formal tone. In very casual settings, simpler alternatives like "skip" or "give up" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "forgo" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being given up or abstained from. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which show "forgo" consistently used with a direct object.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Forgo" is a versatile and frequently used transitive verb that means to deliberately abstain from or give up something. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business settings. While generally neutral in register, it's essential to consider the context to ensure the appropriate level of formality. When writing, be mindful of the slight formality of "forgo" and use simpler alternatives in casual settings. Alternatives such as "relinquish", "waive", and "give up" can be used depending on the context. Remember that "forgo" implies a voluntary decision, differing from "forfeit", which suggests a loss as a penalty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relinquish

Implies a more formal or official surrender of something.

waive

Suggests a voluntary relinquishment of a right or claim.

abandon

Indicates a complete desertion or giving up of something.

give up

A more informal way of saying to stop doing or having something.

do without

Suggests managing without something that is needed or desired.

abstain from

Implies a voluntary restraint from indulging in something.

pass up

Indicates a missed opportunity or a deliberate choice not to take advantage of something.

sacrifice

Suggests giving up something valuable for the sake of something else.

go without

Emphasizes the experience of lacking something necessary or desired.

eschew

Implies a deliberate avoidance of something, often for moral or aesthetic reasons.

FAQs

How to use "forgo" in a sentence?

Use "forgo" to indicate a deliberate decision to abstain from or give up something. For example, "The company chose to "forgo" profits this quarter to invest in research and development."

What can I say instead of "forgo"?

You can use alternatives like "relinquish", "waive", or "give up" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "forgo" or "forego"?

"Forgo" and "forego" are variants of the same word, but "forgo" is more commonly used and accepted. "Forego" may be encountered but is generally considered less standard.

What's the difference between "forgo" and "forfeit"?

"Forgo" implies a voluntary decision to give something up, while "forfeit" usually suggests losing something as a penalty or consequence. For example, you might "forgo" a luxury purchase, but you would "forfeit" your right to bail if you missed a court date.