Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo pardon (someone); to waive any negative feeling towards or desire for punishment or retribution against.
verbTo pardon (something); to waive any negative feeling over or retribution for.
Sentence Examples
I will forgive him out of consideration.
I will forgive him out of consideration for you.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The teacher will ____ you if you explain your reason for being late.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It takes a lot of strength to truly ____ someone who has caused you a great deal of emotional pain.
Word Origin & History
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”)
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Forgive these wild and wandering cries,
Confusions of a wasted youth;
Forgive them where they fail in truth,
And in thy wisdom make me wise."
— 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Prologue”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
"... to forgive their crimes."
— 2021 April 27, Zachary Schrag, The Princeton Guide to Historical Research, Princeton University Press, →ISBN, page 30:
"In several months you’re likely to have a clearer picture on how your state intends to treat your forgiven PPP loan and the deductibility of your business expenses not just for tax year 2020 but also tax year 2021."
— 2021 February 23, Jeanne Sahadi, “So you got a PPP loan? Here’s what that means for your state taxes”, in CNN Business:
"Okay, a good hook forgives everything."
— 2015, Todd in the Shadows, The Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 2014: