forgive
B1Formal, informal, religious, emotional. Common in both elevated and casual discourse.
Definition
Meaning
To stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw, or mistake; to pardon or absolve.
To cancel a debt; to refrain from inflicting punishment; to make allowances for.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The act often involves a conscious decision rather than just a spontaneous feeling. Carries strong moral, emotional, and sometimes religious connotations. Implies a release of the offender from blame or debt.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The verb and adjective 'forgiving' are used identically. Potential minor differences in phrasing frequency (e.g., 'I forgive you' vs. 'You're forgiven').
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties. Slightly more likely to appear in overtly religious contexts in US English due to cultural factors.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJ] forgives [OBJ] (for [ACTION])[SUBJ] forgives [ACTION][SUBJ] is forgiven (for [ACTION])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Forgive and forget.”
- “To err is human; to forgive, divine.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except metaphorically for debts or contractual breaches. 'The bank agreed to forgive the outstanding interest.'
Academic
Used in theological, philosophical, psychological, and sociological discussions about reconciliation, ethics, and conflict resolution.
Everyday
Very common in interpersonal relationships. 'Can you ever forgive me for forgetting your birthday?'
Technical
Not a technical term. Used in legal contexts regarding debt forgiveness or pardons.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I do hope you'll forgive the mess.
- She found it in her heart to forgive him.
American English
- Forgive me for asking, but how old are you?
- The loan was forgiven after ten years of service.
adverb
British English
- He smiled forgivingly, knowing it was an accident.
American English
- She nodded forgivingly, indicating the matter was closed.
adjective
British English
- He has a very forgiving nature.
- The turf is a forgiving surface for runners.
American English
- She gave him a forgiving smile.
- This fabric is very forgiving of stains.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please forgive my bad English.
- My mother forgave me.
- I'll never forgive you for breaking my favourite mug.
- Can you forgive me for being late?
- It was a cruel thing to say, but I've decided to forgive her.
- The government announced it would forgive the student loans of public servants.
- His theology centred on a God who unconditionally forgives human transgression.
- The committee was surprisingly forgiving of the researcher's methodological flaws.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FOR-GIVE: Imagine giving FORward a clean slate to someone, giving them a fresh start despite the past.
Conceptual Metaphor
Forgiveness is erasing a debt. Forgiveness is releasing a burden (the grudge) from oneself. Forgiveness is wiping a slate clean.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'простить' for 'to excuse' in minor situations (e.g., 'excuse me' = 'извините', not 'простите').
- The English concept is often more active and decision-based, while the Russian can imply a more passive 'to stop being angry'.
- 'Forgive' for debts is a direct translation, but 'списать долг' is more common than 'простить долг'.
Common Mistakes
- *I forgave him to be rude. (Correct: I forgave him for being rude.)
- Using the base form incorrectly after the object. *I forgive you say that. (Correct: I forgive you for saying that.)
- Confusing 'forgive' with 'apologize'. (I must forgive you for my mistake -> I must apologize to you for my mistake.)
Practice
Quiz
In the metaphorical expression 'forgiving fabric', what does 'forgiving' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Excuse' is for minor, often social, transgressions (excuse my interruption). 'Forgive' is deeper, for serious personal offenses that caused hurt or anger, involving an emotional release.
No. It can be used for institutions ('The bank forgave the debt'), and metaphorically for objects ('This camera lens is very forgiving of shaky hands').
The main noun form is 'forgiveness'. 'Forgiving' can also be used as a noun in some contexts (e.g., 'Thank you for your forgiving').
Rarely. It's a transitive verb. An impersonal construction is possible: 'To forgive is divine.' However, in most sentences, an object (who or what is forgiven) is stated or strongly implied.