A forgo synonym is a word that means to give up, skip, or choose not to have something. Words like avoid, decline, waive, and sacrifice can express this idea. The best choice depends on what someone gives up and why they decide not to take it.
Introduction
Imagine your friends are buying ice cream after school, but you decide to save your money for a new book. You want the ice cream, yet you choose to leave it behind. Small choices like this happen every day. The word forgo can help describe these moments in clear English.
For example, a student may forgo a game to finish homework before dinner. Learning similar words helps you explain such choices in different ways. It also makes your writing more interesting and helps you avoid using the same word too often.
Students can use synonyms to improve essays and school assignments. Bloggers can make their posts easier and more engaging to read. Content writers can choose words that fit their readers and topics. Daily English users can speak with more confidence and express their thoughts clearly.
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
Mark Twain is often credited with this saying, which reminds us that small choices can help us reach bigger goals.
Whether you are learning English or writing online, understanding related words gives you more ways to share your ideas.
“Well done is better than well said.”
This saying, attributed to Benjamin Franklin, reminds us that actions can matter more than words.
50 Synonyms of Forgo with Meanings and Examples
1. Give Up
Meaning: To stop having or doing something you want or enjoy.
Examples:
- I gave up sweets for one week.
- She gave up her seat for Grandma.
2. Skip
Meaning: To choose not to do something or take part in it.
Examples:
- We skipped the movie to study.
- He skipped lunch because he felt sick.
3. Sacrifice
Meaning: To give up something important to gain or help something else.
Examples:
- Dad sacrificed his rest to help us.
- She sacrificed free time for her exams.
4. Surrender
Meaning: To give up something you have or stop trying to keep it.
Examples:
- He surrendered his prize to his sister.
- The team surrendered its lead near halftime.
5. Relinquish
Meaning: To let go of something you own, hold, or control.
Examples:
- She relinquished her place in line.
- He relinquished control of the small boat.
6. Waive
Meaning: To choose not to claim a right, fee, or benefit.
Examples:
- The school waived my late fee.
- She waived her right to extra time.
7. Decline
Meaning: To politely say no to an offer, request, or invitation.
Examples:
- I declined the offer of another cookie.
- He declined an invitation to the party.
8. Refuse
Meaning: To say no because you do not want to accept something.
Examples:
- She refused another slice of cake.
- He refused the gift from his friend.
9. Abstain
Meaning: To choose not to take part in an activity or action.
Examples:
- I abstained from voting in the class.
- She abstained from sweets during the week.
10. Forego
Meaning: To go without something or choose not to enjoy it.
Examples:
- We forego dessert to save some money.
- He chose to forego his daily coffee.
11. Forgo
Meaning: To decide not to take, use, or enjoy something available.
Examples:
- I will forgo the extra snack today.
- They forgo a trip to save money.
12. Do Without
Meaning: To manage without something you would normally like or need.
Examples:
- We can do without television tonight.
- She did without a car for months.
13. Pass Up
Meaning: To choose not to accept an offer or opportunity.
Examples:
- He passed up a chance to travel.
- I passed up the last piece of cake.
14. Bypass
Meaning: To avoid something by choosing another way or option.
Examples:
- We bypassed the shop on our walk.
- She bypassed the long line outside.
15. Avoid
Meaning: To stay away from something you do not want to face.
Examples:
- He avoided buying snacks after school.
- We avoided the crowded beach today.
16. Leave Out
Meaning: To choose not to include something or someone in a group.
Examples:
- I left out sugar from my tea.
- She left out one detail from her story.
17. Omit
Meaning: To leave something out instead of including it in speech or writing.
Examples:
- Please omit the last line today.
- He omitted one name from the list.
18. Reject
Meaning: To refuse something because you do not want to accept it.
Examples:
- She rejected the offer of extra work.
- He rejected the meal and chose soup.
19. Discard
Meaning: To throw away or stop using something you no longer want.
Examples:
- We discarded the old paper plates.
- She discarded her plan to buy candy.
20. Abandon
Meaning: To leave an idea, plan, or activity and stop following it.
Examples:
- He abandoned his plan to skip class.
- They abandoned the picnic because of rain.
21. Relinquish a Claim
Meaning: To give up your demand for something you believe belongs to you.
Examples:
- She relinquished her claim to the prize.
- He relinquished his claim after the talk.
22. Resign
Meaning: To give up a job, role, or position by choice.
Examples:
- She resigned from her job last Friday.
- He resigned as team captain after the match.
23. Forfeit
Meaning: To lose or give up something because of a rule or choice.
Examples:
- He forfeited his turn by arriving late.
- The team forfeited the game after missing it.
24. Relinquish Control
Meaning: To let another person take charge of a task or situation.
Examples:
- Dad relinquished control of the family car.
- She relinquished control and trusted her team.
25. Abstain From
Meaning: To choose not to do or use something for a reason.
Examples:
- I abstain from soda during school days.
- He abstained from playing to rest his ankle.
26. Refrain From
Meaning: To stop yourself from doing something you may want to do.
Examples:
- Please refrain from talking during the test.
- She refrained from eating before dinner.
27. Forgo the Chance
Meaning: To decide not to take an opportunity that is available.
Examples:
- He forgave no chance and tried again.
28. Let Go
Meaning: To stop holding, keeping, or wanting something you once had.
Examples:
- She let go of her old dream.
- He let go of the prize without complaint.
29. Turn Down
Meaning: To refuse an offer, invitation, or request from someone.
Examples:
- I turned down a ride to school.
- She turned down the job offer politely.
30. Pass
Meaning: To choose not to accept or take something when offered.
Examples:
- I will pass on another cup of tea.
- He passed on the chance to perform.
31. Shun
Meaning: To stay away from someone or something on purpose.
Examples:
- She shunned junk food for better health.
- He shunned the noisy room and rested.
32. Spurn
Meaning: To reject something or someone in a firm way.
Examples:
- She spurned the offer without a second thought.
- He spurned the prize and walked away.
33. Eschew
Meaning: To avoid something on purpose, often because of personal beliefs.
Examples:
- He eschews sugary drinks most days.
- She eschews waste and reuses old bags.
34. Renounce
Meaning: To formally give up a belief, claim, or right.
Examples:
- He renounced his claim to the land.
- She renounced the title after the contest.
35. Relinquishment
Meaning: The act of giving up something you own or control.
Examples:
- The relinquishment of power surprised everyone.
- Her relinquishment of the prize was generous.
36. Forgoing
Meaning: The act of choosing not to take or enjoy something.
Examples:
- Forgoing dessert helped me save money.
- Forgoing the trip gave us more study time.
37. Skip Over
Meaning: To leave something out or move past it without attention.
Examples:
- Do not skip over the final question.
- She skipped over the hard part quickly.
38. Neglect
Meaning: To fail to give something the care or attention it needs.
Examples:
- Never neglect your homework to play games.
- He neglected his rest during exam week.
39. Ignore
Meaning: To pay no attention to something or choose not to respond.
Examples:
- She ignored the offer of another snack.
- He ignored the call while studying.
40. Abstention
Meaning: The act of choosing not to take part in an action.
Examples:
- His abstention from voting was recorded.
- Abstention from sweets helped her reach her goal.
41. Waiver
Meaning: An act or document that gives up a right or claim.
Examples:
- Dad signed a waiver for the school trip.
- The fee waiver saved us some money.
42. Deprive Yourself Of
Meaning: To choose not to let yourself have something you enjoy.
Examples:
- Do not deprive yourself of needed sleep.
- She deprived herself of treats before the race.
43. Cut Out
Meaning: To stop doing, eating, or using something from your routine.
Examples:
- I cut out soda for a month.
- He cut out games before his exams.
44. Forgo an Opportunity
Meaning: To choose not to use a chance to do something useful.
Examples:
- She forgave an opportunity to travel.
45. Refrain
Meaning: To hold yourself back from doing something you might otherwise do.
Examples:
- Please refrain from using your phone now.
- He refrained from making a rude joke.
46. Forbear
Meaning: To hold back from doing something, especially when upset or angry.
Examples:
- She forbore from shouting at her brother.
- He forbore from making a harsh reply.
47. Abstain From Using
Meaning: To choose not to use an item, tool, or service.
Examples:
- We abstained from using plastic bags today.
- He abstained from using his phone at dinner.
48. Give Up On
Meaning: To stop hoping for or trying to achieve something.
Examples:
- She gave up on the broken toy.
- He gave up on winning the race.
49. Forego the Pleasure
Meaning: To choose not to enjoy something pleasant for another reason.
Examples:
- I forego the pleasure of a late movie.
- She forewent the pleasure of shopping today.
50. Set Aside
Meaning: To put something aside or choose not to focus on it for now.
Examples:
- He set aside his wish for new shoes.
- She set aside the game to finish homework.
Forgo Synonym and Antonym
A synonym of forgo is a word with a similar meaning, such as skip, decline, or give up. An antonym expresses the opposite idea. Depending on the sentence, words like accept, choose, keep, enjoy, and pursue can work as opposites. For example, you can forgo a treat or choose to enjoy it instead.
Forego
Forego is commonly used as a variant spelling of forgo in modern English, although forgo is the standard spelling for choosing not to have something. Do not confuse it with the older verb forego, meaning to go before. Check the sentence and choose the spelling that matches your intended meaning.
Forgo Antonyms
Useful antonyms of forgo include accept, take, keep, enjoy, claim, pursue, retain, and embrace. The right opposite depends on the context. If you forgo an invitation, you decline it; if you accept it, you do the opposite. If you forgo a reward, you leave it behind; if you claim the reward, you take it.
Forgo Synonym Crossword
For a crossword clue asking for a synonym of forgo, try skip, waive, cede, omit, spurn, or eschew. The correct answer depends on the number of letters and the clue’s meaning. Short clues often use skip or cede, while longer clues may point to renounce or relinquish. Check crossing letters before choosing.
Forgo in a Sentence
Here are a few simple examples of forgo in everyday English: “I will forgo dessert tonight to save room for dinner.” “She chose to forgo the concert because she had an exam.” “We may forgo our weekend trip to save money.” These examples show that the word can describe giving up a pleasure, event, or plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does forgo mean skip?
Yes, forgo can mean skip, especially when someone chooses not to do or enjoy something. For example, “I will forgo dessert” means “I will skip dessert.” However, forgo can sound more formal than skip. It often suggests a conscious choice, such as giving up a benefit or pleasure for a reason. In casual conversation, skip is usually simpler and more common.
What is another word for “forego”?
Another word for forego, when it means choosing not to have something, is give up. Other options include skip, decline, waive, sacrifice, and relinquish. For example, “She chose to forego the reward” can become “She chose to give up the reward.” In modern writing, forgo is the usual spelling for this meaning. The best synonym depends on the sentence and the thing being given up.
What does “forgo” mean?
Forgo means to decide not to take, use, or enjoy something that is available. Someone might forgo a holiday to save money or forgo a snack to eat dinner later. The word often describes a choice rather than an accidental loss. It can appear in personal conversations, school essays, news stories, and professional writing. Similar words include skip, decline, and give up, depending on the context.
What does “we will forgo” mean?
The phrase “we will forgo” means that a group of people has decided not to take, use, or enjoy something. For example, “We will forgo the meeting” means the group will choose not to hold or attend it, depending on the context. “We will forgo dessert” means the group will not have dessert. The phrase is often used in polite or formal speech to explain a shared decision.
Conclusion
Learning synonyms of forgo helps you express choices in clear and interesting ways. Instead of using the same word in every sentence, you can choose skip, decline, sacrifice, waive, or give up to match your meaning. Each word has a slightly different use, so it is important to understand the context before choosing one.
For students, these words can make essays and schoolwork stronger. Bloggers and content writers can use them to create natural, helpful articles without repeating the same terms. In daily conversation, knowing more words helps you explain your decisions and understand other people more easily.
Start with three words from this list and practice using each one in a sentence. Then try adding them to an email, an essay, or a conversation with a friend. Notice how the meaning changes when you replace forgo with another word.
“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
This idea, associated with philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, reminds us that learning words can help us express more of what we think.
“A word after a word after a word is power.”
Writer Margaret Atwood’s words celebrate the value of language and steady practice.
Keep learning, keep writing, and choose each word with care. Over time, your English will become clearer, more natural, and more confident.
Emily writes simple, useful, and reader-friendly content, helping LexoraHubs provide valuable information to its audience.
