forgive
Americanverb (used with object)
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to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
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to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).
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to grant pardon to (a person).
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to cease to feel resentment against.
to forgive one's enemies.
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to cancel an indebtedness or liability of.
to forgive the interest owed on a loan.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to cease to blame or hold resentment against (someone or something)
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to grant pardon for (a mistake, wrongdoing, etc)
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(tr) to free or pardon (someone) from penalty
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(tr) to free from the obligation of (a debt, payment, etc)
Related Words
See excuse.
Other Word Forms
- forgivable adjective
- forgivably adverb
- forgiver noun
- half-forgiven adjective
- preforgive verb (used with object)
- unforgivable adjective
- unforgivableness noun
- unforgivably adverb
- unforgiven adjective
Etymology
Origin of forgive
First recorded before 900; for- + give; replacing Middle English foryiven, Old English forgiefan
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Early relationships teach us basic social competencies: how to express emotions, cooperate and forgive, and how and when to compete—all skills we use at work.
People who meet Reese in his brightly colored paraphernalia could be forgiven for thinking otherwise.
With all those headlines, investors can be forgiven for forgetting about earnings.
From Barron's
With all those headlines, investors can be forgiven for forgetting about earnings.
From Barron's
“We believe that unpacking mistakes, learning about our schemas, and forgiving ourselves leads to greater happiness and, yes, making fewer mistakes,” they write.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
