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Definition of forgive

forgive

/fərˈɡɪv/
for · give
Adverb:forgivably
•
Adjective:forgivable
•
Past Simple:forgave
•
Past Participle:forgiven
•
Present Participle:forgiving
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forgive Lexical Profile

forgive Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw, or mistake.

Example

"It took her several months to forgive her brother for breaking the family heirloom."

2

To cancel or absolve someone from having to pay (a financial debt, loan, or obligation).

Example

"The government passed a relief bill to forgive a portion of the student loans held by public service workers."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for forgive

• Rhymes for forgive

• Nearby Words

forging
forgivable
forgivably
forgive
forgiveness
forgiver
forgiving

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'forgiefan', meaning to give up, grant, or remit an offense, formed from the prefix 'for-' (completely) and 'giefan' (to give), modeled as a loan-translation of Vulgar Latin 'perdonare' (the source of English 'pardon').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Forgive. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/forgive
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