Forgive Definition and Meaning
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on July 4, 2025
Forgive refers to stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw, or mistake. e.g., She decided to forgive her friend for the misunderstanding.
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Forgive Definitions
To excuse a mistake or offense.
The teacher forgave the student's late submission considering his recent illness.
To grant pardon for or remission of an offense or debt.
The king decided to forgive the prisoner's offenses.
To show mercy or leniency towards someone.
The jury forgave the defendant, considering her remorse and willingness to make amends.
To grant relief from payment.
Due to the natural disaster, the government forgave taxes for affected residents.
To absolve someone from payment of a debt.
The bank forgave the loan due to the borrower's dire circumstances.
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To cease to feel resentment against an offender.
It took time, but he eventually forgave his colleague for the betrayal.
To let go of negative feelings resulting from a wrongdoing.
Forgiving herself was the first step towards healing.
To give up resentment against or stop wanting to punish (someone) for an offense or fault; pardon.
To relent in being angry or in wishing to exact punishment for (an offense or fault).
To absolve from payment of (a debt, for example).
To grant forgiveness.
(transitive) To pardon; to waive any negative feeling or desire for punishment, retribution, or compensation.
Please forgive me if my phone goes off - I'm expecting an urgent call from my boss.
Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.
Forgive a debt, that is, tell a debtor that a repayment of a loan is no longer needed.
(intransitive) To accord forgiveness.
To give wholly; to make over without reservation; to resign.
To them that list the world's gay shows I leave,And to great ones such folly do forgive.
To give up resentment or claim to requital on account of (an offense or wrong); to remit the penalty of; to pardon; - said in reference to the act forgiven.
And their sins should be forgiven them.
He forgive injures so readily that he might be said to invite them.
To cease to feel resentment against, on account of wrong committed; to give up claim to requital from or retribution upon (an offender); to absolve; to pardon; - said of the person offending.
Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
I as free forgive you, as I would be fforgiven.
Stop blaming or grant forgiveness;
I forgave him his infidelity
She cannot forgive him for forgetting her birthday
Absolve from payment;
I forgive you your debt
To give up all claim on account of an offense or debt.
She forgave the debt owed by her friend as a gesture of goodwill.
To renounce anger or resentment against.
Forgiving those who wronged us can often be challenging.
To be capable of being forgiven or pardonable.
Despite the gravity of the mistake, it was seen as forgivable under the circumstances.
Forgive Snonyms
Amnesty
A general pardon for offenses, especially political offenses.
The government announced an amnesty for all political prisoners.
Exonerate
To officially declare someone not guilty of a crime.
The new evidence exonerated the accused.
Pardon
To release someone from the punishment for an offense.
The governor pardoned several inmates on humanitarian grounds.
Absolve
To free someone from guilt, blame, or responsibility.
He was absolved of any wrongdoing after the investigation.
Mercy
Compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
She pleaded for mercy at the court hearing.
Remit
To cancel or refrain from exacting or inflicting a debt or punishment.
The penalty charges were remitted by the bank.
Condone
To overlook, forgive, or disregard an offense without protest or censure.
The school cannot condone such behavior among students.
Acquit
To declare not guilty in a court of law.
The jury acquitted the defendant due to lack of evidence.
Clemency
Mercy or lenience, especially in the judicial use of the power to pardon.
The convict's family appealed for clemency from the judge.
Overlook
To ignore or disregard an error or fault.
The coach decided to overlook the player's mistake this time.
Forgive Example Sentences
His ability to forgive easily was both a gift and a curse.
She struggled to forgive the betrayal but knew it was the only way to heal.
To truly forgive, one must let go of lingering resentment.
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.
Common Curiosities
How do we divide forgive into syllables?
Forgive is divided into syllables as for-give.
What is a stressed syllable in forgive?
The stressed syllable in "forgive" is the second one, "give."
How is forgive used in a sentence?
e.g., Learning to forgive is an important step towards emotional healing.
What is the root word of forgive?
The root word of "forgive" is from the Old English "forgiefan," which combines "for-" (completely) with "giefan" (to give).
How many syllables are in forgive?
There are two syllables in "forgive."
What is the second form of forgive?
The second form is "forgave."
Why is it called forgive?
It's called "forgive" from the Old English "forgiefan," meaning to give, grant, or allow something, reflecting the act of pardoning or excusing someone's faults.
What is another term for forgive?
Another term for "forgive" is "pardon."
What is the verb form of forgive?
The verb form is "forgive."
What is the pronunciation of forgive?
Forgive is pronounced as /fərˈɡɪv/ or /fɔːrˈɡɪv/.
What is the plural form of forgive?
As a verb, "forgive" does not have a plural form.
Is forgive an abstract noun?
No, "forgive" is a verb, though the concept of forgiveness can be considered abstract.
Is forgive a collective noun?
No, "forgive" is a verb, not a noun.
Is the word forgive imperative?
"Forgive" can be used in the imperative mood as a command or request, e.g., "Forgive me."
Is the word forgive Gerund?
"Forgiving" is the gerund form of the verb "forgive."
Which vowel is used before forgive?
The use of a vowel or consonant before "forgive" depends on the preceding word; there's no specific rule related to "forgive" itself.
What is the first form of forgive?
The first form is "forgive."
What is the third form of forgive?
The third form is "forgiven."
What part of speech is forgive?
"Forgive" is a verb.
Is forgive a negative or positive word?
"Forgive" is generally considered a positive word, associated with compassion and reconciliation.
Is the word “forgive” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
In sentences like "She forgave him," "him" is the direct object of "forgive."
What is the singular form of forgive?
"Forgive" does not have a singular or plural form; it remains "forgive" as a verb.
Is forgive a noun or adjective?
"Forgive" is a verb.
Which conjunction is used with forgive?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used in sentences involving "forgive" to connect clauses.
Is forgive an adverb?
No, "forgive" is not an adverb.
Is forgive a vowel or consonant?
The word "forgive" starts with a consonant.
Is forgive a countable noun?
"Forgive" is not a noun; it is a verb.
Which preposition is used with forgive?
Prepositions like "for" can be used with "forgive," depending on context, e.g., "forgive someone for something."
What is the opposite of forgive?
The opposite of "forgive" could be "resent" or "hold a grudge."
Is the forgive term a metaphor?
"Forgive" can be used metaphorically to describe the process of letting go of negative emotions.
Which determiner is used with forgive?
As a verb, "forgive" does not directly associate with determiners.
Which article is used with forgive?
As a verb, "forgive" does not typically require an article.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
