forego

IPA/fɔːˈɡəʊ/
KK[fɔrɡˈo]IPA/fɔːrˈɡəʊ/

forego — verb

  • foregopresent simple I / you / we / they
  • foregoeshe / she / it
  • forewentpast simple
  • foregonepast participle
  • foregoing-ing form
  • forgoes3rd person singular

1. to make a conscious decision to give up something that would normally be availab

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to make a conscious decision to give up something that would normally be available, accepting its loss for the sake of a different goal or benefit.

Example

Lucía decided to forego her usual morning pastry to save money for a holiday.

forego + noun phrase (something enjoyable given up)

The board voted to forego a bonus this year and hire more staff.

forego + noun phrase for the benefit of others

Common collocations
  • forego an opportunity
  • forego a right
  • forego a pleasure
  • forego a claim
  • forego a bonus
Synonyms
  • forgo

    identical meaning; the more common spelling

  • give up

    less formal; used in everyday speech

  • waive

    formal; often used for rights, fees, or rules

  • abstain from

    suggests deliberate self-restraint, often with moral or health undertones

Antonyms
  • indulge in

    to allow yourself to have or do something enjoyable

  • keep

    to continue to have or hold something

Grammar Patterns

forego + noun phrase

forego + gerund

Usage Note

This sense is a common variant spelling of 'forgo'. Both spellings are correct, but 'forgo' is more frequent in modern writing. The verb is transitive and takes a direct object (noun phrase or gerund). Common objects include 'opportunity', 'right', 'pleasure', and 'claim'.

Common Mistakes

I decided to forego from eating dessert.
I decided to forego dessert.
'forego' is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.
She forewent on her holiday to save money.
She forewent her holiday to save money.
No preposition 'on' is needed after 'forego' or 'forewent'.

2. to come before something else in time, order, or position; to be situated or occ

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to come before something else in time, order, or position; to be situated or occur earlier than another event or thing.

Example

In older liturgical texts, a prayer of confession typically foregoes the main sermon.

formal register; forego meaning 'precede' in a structured sequence

The translator noted that 'hear this' often foregoes a royal decree in old manuscripts.

archaic/formal usage; forego + noun phrase as 'precede'

Common collocations
  • forego + a decree
  • forego + a ruling
  • forego + a speech
  • forego + a chapter
Synonyms
  • precede

    the standard modern word for this meaning

  • come before

    less formal; common in everyday English

  • antedate

    formal; used when something is earlier in time than something else

Antonyms
  • follow

    to come after something in time or order

  • succeed

    formal; to come after in position or time

Grammar Patterns

forego + noun phrase (in formal/archaic contexts)

Usage Note

This sense is formal and now considered archaic in most contexts. In modern English, 'precede' is preferred. Using 'forego' for this meaning can cause confusion with the far more common sense 1 ('do without'). The past tense is 'forewent' for both senses.

Common Mistakes

The introduction foregoes the main argument.' (when meaning 'precedes')
The introduction precedes the main argument.
Using 'forego' for 'precede' risks confusion with the 'do without' sense; 'precede' is clearer and more natural.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five words describe choosing not to keep or take something, but they differ in scope and formality. 'Forego' and 'forgo' are interchangeable spellings of the same verb ('forgo' is more common). 'Give up' is the most general and least formal — you can give up a habit, a job, a seat, or hope. 'Waive' is restricted to formal contexts involving rights, fees, or rules (e.g. 'waive the application fee'). 'Abstain from' emphasises deliberate self-restraint, often with moral or health dimensions (e.g. 'abstain from alcohol'). 'Sacrifice' adds the idea that what you give up is valuable and the loss is meaningful. For example: a politician might forego a salary increase (deliberately not take it); a dieter gives up sugar (daily habit); a plaintiff waives the right to sue (formal legal choice); a monk abstains from meat (religious discipline); a parent sacrifices sleep to care for a sick child (valuable loss for a greater good).

forgo ↗give up ↗waive ↗abstain fromsacrifice ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • forego in favour of something

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Forego comes from Old English 'foregān', where 'fore-' means 'before' and 'gān' means 'to go'. The original meaning was 'to go before, to precede' (sense 2). The modern sense 'to do without' (sense 1) arose from a historical confusion with a separate Old English verb 'forgān' (from 'for-' meaning 'away' + 'gān'), which meant 'to go away, to abstain from, to neglect'. Over time, the two verbs merged in spelling while retaining both distinct meanings, creating the modern ambiguity.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined above