verb
To not remember a person, thing, fact, or place.
I forgot her name.
He forgot where he parked.
Common phrases & grammar
forget someone's name · forget a password · forget a date · forget a face
forget + noun
forget + wh-word + subject + verb
American English
How to pronounce forget
verbA1Very common word
ferGEHT
/fɚˈgɛt̚/
2 syllables · Stress the second syllable.
To not remember a person, thing, fact, or place.
What to listen for
“Forget” is commonly pronounced either “fer-GET” (/fɚˈgɛt/) or “for-GET” (/fɔɹˈgɛt/). Both are natural American English pronunciations.
Common pronunciation: “fer-GET” /fɚˈgɛt//fɚˈgɛt̚/
Also common: “for-GET” /fɔɹˈgɛt//fɔɹˈgɛt̚/
Meanings & examples
verb
To not do something because you did not remember to do it.
I forgot to call Mom.
Don't forget to lock the door.
Common phrases & grammar
forget to call · forget to bring something · forget to lock the door · forget to pay
forget + to + verb
don't forget + to + verb
verbless common
To have no memory of doing something or of something that happened.
I forgot meeting him before.
She forgot saying those words.
Good to know
Use forget to do when the action did not happen. Use forget doing when you do not remember a past action.
Common phrases & grammar
forget + verb-ing
verb
To leave something somewhere because you did not remember to take it with you.
I forgot my keys at home.
She forgot her phone on the bus.
Common phrases & grammar
forget your keys · forget your wallet · forget your phone · forget your umbrella
forget + noun + place phrase
Useful expressions
To stop thinking or worrying about something.
Try to forget about work tonight.
Used to say that something is not important or that you do not want to continue.
Forget it—we can talk tomorrow.
To stop being angry about something someone did and move on.
I apologized, and she decided to forgive and forget.
Related words & forms
The past forms are forgot and forgotten, not forgetted; use forgotten after have, has, or had. The -ing form is forgetting, with two t's.