forgot
Definition
- Verb (past tense of forget):
- To fail to remember: "forgot" is the simple past tense of "forget," meaning to be unable to recall information, an event, or a task from memory.
- To inadvertently leave behind: It can also mean to unintentionally leave something in a place without taking it.
- To neglect: It implies failing to perform an action that was intended or required.
Usage Examples
To fail to remember:
- I forgot her name at the party. (I was unable to recall her name.)
- He forgot to lock the door before leaving. (He neglected to perform the action of locking.)
To inadvertently leave behind:
- She forgot her umbrella on the bus. (She left her umbrella unintentionally on the bus.)
To neglect:
- They forgot their promise to help us. (They failed to keep their commitment.)
Advanced Usage
"forgot oneself": to lose self-control or composure, often leading to inappropriate behavior.
- In the heat of the argument, he forgot himself and shouted. (He lost his composure and acted improperly.)
"forgot about": to cease to think of or consider something.
- We forgot about the meeting until it was too late. (We no longer thought about the meeting.)
Variants and Related Words
Forget (verb, base form): the present tense form.
- I often forget my keys. (I frequently fail to remember them.)
Forgotten (past participle): used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses.
- She has forgotten the password. (She no longer remembers it.)
Forgetful (adjective): tending to forget things easily.
- He is forgetful about appointments. (He often fails to remember them.)
Synonyms
Overlook: to fail to notice or remember.
- I overlooked the deadline. (I forgot about it.)
Neglect: to fail to care for or perform.
- She neglected her homework. (She forgot to do it.)
Misremember: to remember incorrectly.
- He misremembered the date. (He forgot the correct date.)
Related Idioms
Forgive and forget: to stop feeling angry or resentful and no longer remember the offense.
- After the argument, they decided to forgive and forget. (They chose to move on without holding a grudge.)
Eaten bread is soon forgotten: a proverb meaning that once a favor or kindness is received, it is quickly taken for granted.
- He helped them once, but eaten bread is soon forgotten. (They no longer appreciate his help.)