Forgo

Forgo is a verb meaning to omit, refrain from, or do without something that one might otherwise have. It conveys a voluntary abstention or renunciation, often in the sense of self-restraint or choice rather than coercion.

The verb is typically transitive and used with a direct object: forgo something (forgo dessert, forgo the trip). It can also be followed by a subordinate clause: forgo doing something. The simple past tense is forgone or, more commonly in everyday use, forwent; the past participle is forgone.

Etymology and related forms: forgo derives from Old English forgān, meaning to go away or depart, with the modern sense of going without arising through that broader idea of leaving something behind. A related form, forego, historically meant to precede or go before; in contemporary writing, forego is less common and foregone is the past participle of forego. The spellings forgo and forego are sometimes confused in modern usage.

Usage notes: forgo is more common in formal or literary contexts. In everyday language, speakers often replace it with simpler options such as skip, pass up, or refrain from. It is generally used to describe a deliberate choice to give up or avoid something, rather than an inability or external compulsion.

Examples: He decided to forgo the dessert. The team chose to forgo the project due to budget concerns. By forgoing the trip, she saved both time and money.

See also: abstain, renounce, refrain, waive, skip. Foregone/forego: historical or idiomatic phrases like foregone conclusion illustrate different spellings and senses.