had been forgone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been forgone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was previously decided against or relinquished. Example: "The opportunity for a promotion had been forgone due to his lack of interest in taking on additional responsibilities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

By mid-week it estimated that sales worth £25m had been forgone, including exports at a rate of £3m a day.

The Economist

"Coming off of a five-year recession, there were so many things that had been forgone during that period of time, like funding education and road infrastructure," said State Senator Luke Kenley, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Clearly there would be a legal recourse to this, not only to the cost incurred but also the future profits that would have been forgone as well.

The Guardian - Business

On the downside, Farage will face accusations that he bottled it, and a chance to kill Cameron sometime this summer has been forgone.

The Guardian

But on days like today where review copies have been forgone in place of brand deals, that's the opposite of transparency in every way.

Forbes

Empirical studies in this field have rarely included the explicit statement that some care has been forgone due to financial problems or unavailability.

BMC Health Services Research

Often they are then dipped into flour, egg and bread crumbs before being gently fried, but lately I have been forgoing the crumbs.

The New York Times - Food

Dr. Ira M. Jacobson, professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, said many patients have been forgoing treatment in order to wait for the approval of the new drugs.

The New York Times

More domestic demand will help ease the adjustment in Europe's southern economies, but it will also bring real gains to Germans who have been forgoing higher living standards for a savings surplus that has been poorly invested abroad.

The Economist

To prevent negative returns for investors, many sponsors have been forgoing or deferring at least part of their fees and sometimes dipping into their own pockets to inject cash into the funds.

The New York Times

According to the study, which was released yesterday by the Canadian Medical Association Journal, physicians in Canada have been forgoing advisement saying that fentanyl should not be prescribed to those who do not have previous opiate exposure.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been forgone", ensure the context clearly indicates what was given up and why. Consider stronger, more common alternatives like "sacrificed" or "relinquished" for greater impact.

Common error

Avoid using "had been forgone" in casual conversation or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or pretentious. Simpler phrases are often more appropriate and direct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been forgone" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that a particular action (forgoing) was completed before a specific point in the past. The phrase is used to describe a state where something was deliberately given up or an opportunity was missed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been forgone" is a grammatically correct past perfect passive phrase that indicates something was deliberately given up in the past. Ludwig AI analysis reveals it's relatively rare and leans toward formal contexts like News & Media and Science. While grammatically sound, stronger and more common alternatives like "had been sacrificed" or "had been relinquished" often provide greater clarity and impact. Therefore, consider the audience and context when choosing whether to use "had been forgone".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been sacrificed

Suggests a deliberate giving up of something valuable for a higher purpose or greater good; implies a significant loss.

had been relinquished

Implies a voluntary surrender or abandonment of something previously held or claimed.

had been waived

Specifically refers to the act of voluntarily giving up a right, claim, or privilege.

had been surrendered

Suggests yielding or giving up something, often under pressure or compulsion.

had been missed

Focuses on the failure to seize an opportunity or obtain something desirable.

had been passed up

Emphasizes the act of intentionally declining or rejecting an opportunity.

had been ceded

Implies formally giving up control or possession of something, often territory or rights.

had been forfeited

Suggests losing something as a penalty for wrongdoing or failure to meet requirements.

had been conceded

Implies reluctantly acknowledging defeat or giving up a point in an argument.

had been abandoned

Suggests a complete and often abrupt desertion or relinquishment of something.

FAQs

What does "had been forgone" mean?

"Had been forgone" means something was previously given up or not taken advantage of. It's the past perfect passive form of the verb "forgo".

When should I use "had been forgone"?

Use "had been forgone" when you want to emphasize that an opportunity, benefit, or advantage was previously and intentionally given up or not pursued. It is more common in formal or technical contexts.

Are there simpler alternatives to "had been forgone"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use phrases like "had been sacrificed", "had been relinquished", or "had been waived". These alternatives may be clearer and more direct in some situations.

How does "had been forgone" differ from "had been forgotten"?

"Had been forgone" implies a deliberate choice to give something up, whereas "had been forgotten" means something was unintentionally overlooked or not remembered. They have opposite meanings.