verb
forgo
faw-GOH
verb
1
To choose to go without something, even though you could have it.
"They decided to forgo dessert and head straight home."
"He forwent his usual coffee to save money."
How to Use Forgo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo deliberately do without something.
Common mistake
Often confused with "forego," which technically means "to go before" but is now widely accepted as an alternate spelling of "forgo."
Easily confused with
Word Forms
forwent past tense, forgoed past tense, forgone past tense, forgoes singular
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They decided to _____ dessert and head straight home.
Etymology
From Old English forgān ("to go away, forgo") — for- + go.