forgive

Meaning

1. (transitive) To pardon (someone); to waive any negative feeling towards or desire for punishment or retribution against.
2. (transitive) To pardon (something); to waive any negative feeling over or retribution for.
3. (transitive) To waive or remit (a debt), to absolve from payment or compensation of.
4. (intransitive) To accord forgiveness.
5. (transitive) To look past; to look beyond.
6. (transitive) To redeem; to offset the bad effects of something.

Synonyms

pardon

excuse

condone

remit

absolve

tolerate

exculpate

forgiveness

show mercy

release

overlook

grant forgiveness

release from curse

spare

let off

free

🆓

relent

exonerate

justify

leave

amnesty

solve

indulge

let loose

level

liberate

open

reconcile

redeem

reprieve

resolve

save

set free

sympathize with

unbend

untie

validate

vindicate

beg for mercy

have mercy

make concessions

make excuses

refrain from

show mercy to

be at peace

forgive and forget

forgive me

condome

make real

abstain from

Translations

pardonner

perdonar

verzeihen

perdonare

vergeben

excuser

vergeven

perdoar

συγχωρώ

perdonar

desculpar

affetmek

begenadigen

entschuldigen

escusar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/fə(ɹ)ˈɡɪv/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: foryiven

Inherited from Old English: forġiefan

Cognate with Scots: forgeve

Cognate with Western Frisian: ferjaan

Cognate with Dutch: vergeven

Cognate with German: vergeben

Cognate with Icelandic: fyrirgefa

In summary

Alteration (due to give) of Middle English foryiven, forȝiven, from Old English forġiefan (“to forgive, to give”), from Proto-West Germanic *frageban, from Proto-Germanic *fragebaną (“to give away; give up; release; forgive”), equivalent to for- + give (etymologically for- + yive). Cognate with Scots forgeve, forgif, forgie (“to forgive”), West Frisian ferjaan (“to forgive”), Dutch vergeven (“to forgive”), German vergeben (“to forgive”), Icelandic fyrirgefa (“to forgive”), Yiddish פֿאַרגעבן (fargebn, “to forgive”)

Sentences

Please forgive me .