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Definition of forsake

forsake

/fərˈseɪk/
for · sake
Adjective:forsaken
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Past Simple:forsook
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Past Participle:forsaken
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Present Participle:forsaking
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forsake Lexical Profile

forsake Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To abandon or desert someone or something that one was previously loyal or attached to.

Example

"Even during the most difficult years, he refused to forsake his childhood friends."

2

To renounce or give up a valued, long-held practice, belief, or way of life.

Example

"The artist decided to forsake the comforts of city life to paint in a remote mountain cabin."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for forsake
Antonyms
View all antonyms for forsake

Word Nuance & Usage

'Forsake' carries a formal, literary, or solemn register and implies breaking a deep bond of loyalty or affection, making it much weightier than everyday synonyms like 'leave' or 'quit'.

• Rhymes for forsake

• Nearby Words

fornicator
foroglio
foroglio falls
forsake
forsythia
fort
fortaleza

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'forsacan', meaning to object to, oppose, refuse, or renounce, formed from the prefix 'for-' (away, completely) and 'sacan' (to struggle, dispute, or contend).

Cite this Entry

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