forgive
verb
for·give fər-ˈgiv 
fȯr-
forgave fər-ˈgāv
fȯr-
; forgiven fər-ˈgi-vən fȯr-
; forgiving transitive verb
1
: to cease to feel resentment against (an offender) : pardon
forgive one's enemies
2
a
: to give up resentment of or claim to requital (see requital sense 1) for
forgive an insult
b
: to grant relief from payment of
forgive a debt
intransitive verb
: to grant forgiveness
had to learn to forgive and forget
forgivable
fər-ˈgi-və-bəl
adjective fȯr-
forgivably
fər-ˈgi-və-blē
adverb fȯr-
forgiver noun
Synonyms
- pardon
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Can you ever forgive me for being so selfish? I've never forgiven myself for the way I treated her. We must ask God to forgive us for our sins. When he feels he's been insulted, he finds it hard to forgive and forget. He finds it hard to forgive an insult. We must ask God to forgive our sins. The government has agreed to forgive some of the debt. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Biden had been under pressure from progressive groups to forgive up to $50,000, but fulfilled a campaign promise of forgiving at least $10,000. 
Merdie Nzanga, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 Given a couple of days to forgive the men who have been arrested for the rapes — or be excommunicated from the colony and therefore denied a place in heaven — the women vote on three possible responses: do nothing, stay and fight, or leave. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2022 In 2020, Reeves vetoed legislation that would have let Jackson forgive at least a portion of the unpaid water bills for poor people. Emily Wagster Pettus, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Sep. 2022 In 2020, Reeves vetoed legislation that would have let Jackson forgive at least a portion of the unpaid water bills for poor people. Emily Wagster Pettus, ajc, 1 Sep. 2022 Biden could forgive $1,000,000 or $1 per borrower—Fox News would react the same way. Julian Epp, The New Republic, 30 Aug. 2022 Biden on Wednesday said his administration would forgive tens of thousands of dollars for individuals earning less than $125,000 a year. Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2022 Warren and other progressives, including Representative Ayanna Pressley, were consistent in their calls for Biden to forgive at least $50,000 in student debt per borrower. Jarrell Dillard, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2022 President Joe Biden plans to forgive up to $10,000 − and in some cases up to $20,000 − in debt for Americans who owe money on federal student loans. Morgan Watkins, The Courier-Journal, 25 Aug. 2022 See More
Merdie Nzanga, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 Given a couple of days to forgive the men who have been arrested for the rapes — or be excommunicated from the colony and therefore denied a place in heaven — the women vote on three possible responses: do nothing, stay and fight, or leave. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2022 In 2020, Reeves vetoed legislation that would have let Jackson forgive at least a portion of the unpaid water bills for poor people. Emily Wagster Pettus, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Sep. 2022 In 2020, Reeves vetoed legislation that would have let Jackson forgive at least a portion of the unpaid water bills for poor people. Emily Wagster Pettus, ajc, 1 Sep. 2022 Biden could forgive $1,000,000 or $1 per borrower—Fox News would react the same way. Julian Epp, The New Republic, 30 Aug. 2022 Biden on Wednesday said his administration would forgive tens of thousands of dollars for individuals earning less than $125,000 a year. Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2022 Warren and other progressives, including Representative Ayanna Pressley, were consistent in their calls for Biden to forgive at least $50,000 in student debt per borrower. Jarrell Dillard, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2022 President Joe Biden plans to forgive up to $10,000 − and in some cases up to $20,000 − in debt for Americans who owe money on federal student loans. Morgan Watkins, The Courier-Journal, 25 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English forgifan, from for- + gifan to give
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a
Phrases Containing forgive
Kids Definition
forgive
verb
for·give fər-ˈgiv
forgave
-ˈgāv
; forgiven -ˈgi-vən
; forgiving : to stop feeling angry at or hurt by
Please forgive me—I didn't mean it.
forgivable
adjective
as in excusable
worthy of forgiveness accidentally spilling your coffee on my newspaper is certainly a forgivable mishap Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- excusable
- justifiable
- pardonable
- venial
- harmless
- ignorable
- petty
- minor
- allowable
- remissible
- redeemable
- permissible
- remittable
- condonable
- unimportant
- trivial
- insignificant
- tolerable
- trifling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inexcusable
- unjustifiable
- unforgivable
- mortal
- criminal
- indefensible
- unpardonable
- evil
- heinous
- abominable
- sinful
- damning
- wicked
- vile