forgive

CEFRB1

/fə(ɹ)ˈɡɪv/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To stop feeling angry with someone for a wrong action.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To pardon (something); to waive any negative feeling over or retribution for.

Examples

  • I will forgive him out of consideration for you.

  • I will forgive him out of consideration.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
4

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To waive or remit (a debt), to absolve from payment or compensation of.

  2. To pardon (someone); to waive any negative feeling towards or desire for punishment or retribution against.

  3. To accord forgiveness.

More examples

In context

  • Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.

  • Please forgive me if my phone goes off - I'm expecting an urgent call from my boss.

  • Forgive us our trespasses.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The teacher will blank you if you explain your reason for being late.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

Alteration (due to give) of Middle English foryiven, forȝiven, from Old English forġiefan (“to forgive, to give”), from Proto-West Germanic *frageban, from Proto-Germanic *fragebaną (“to give away; give up; release; forgive”), equivalent to for- + give (etymologically for- + yive). Cognate with Scots forgeve, forgif, forgie (“to forgive”), West Frisian ferjaan (“to forgive”), Dutch vergeven (“to forgive”), German vergeben (“to forgive”), Icelandic fyrirgefa (“to forgive”), Yiddish פֿאַרגעבן (fargebn, “to forgive”)