Forgo vs Forego
What’s the difference between them?
Forgo
Meaning:
to go without, to abstain from, to do without, to renounce
Examples:
1. I decided to forgo the dessert and just order a cup of tea instead.
2. He chose to forgo the opportunity to attend college and instead pursue a career in the military.
3. She decided to forgo the traditional approach and try something new.
Forego
Meaning:
To go before; to precede; to precede in time; to go in advance of; to anticipate; to preoccupy.
Examples:
1. The company decided to forego its traditional marketing strategies and embrace innovative digital advertising techniques.
2. In order to forego any potential delays, the team set out early to reach the conference venue ahead of time.
3. She chose to forego dessert at the restaurant to save room for the delicious homemade pie her friend had prepared.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Forgo
1. Refrain from
2. Abstain from
3. Renounce
4. Forego
5. Leave behind
1. Indulge
2. Partake
3. Enjoy
4. Embrace
Forego
1. Anticipate
2. Precede
3. Lead
4. Outpace
5. Outstrip
1. Follow
2. Come after
3. Succeed
4. Trail
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Forgo", "Forego".
1. Think of the word 'forgo' as forgoing something (not getting it) and the word 'forego' as preceding something (happening before).
2. A mnemonic phrase to remember the difference between the two words could be: 'Forego what comes before, forgo what comes without.'
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
When should the word 'forgo' be used?
Forgo should be used when one wants to indicate that they are going without something, abstaining from something, or renouncing something.
When is the appropriate context for using the word 'forego'?
Forego should be used when one wants to indicate that something is going before in time, is anticipated, or preoccupies something.
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
Yes, these words have similar pronunciation, so you have pay attention to the context to use the correct word.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
One common mistake is to use forego when they actually meant to use forgo. Another common mistake is to mispronounce the words. People may also mistakenly interchange the two words or forget the difference between them.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. The customer chose to __________ their usual order and try something new.
2. Our teams plan was to __________ the traditional method of conducting business.
3. Some people choose to _________ luxury and live a simpler life.
4. The team _________ the traditional celebration this year due to budgetary constraints.
5. The members of the team ___________ their differences to come to an agreement.
6. The organization decided to __________ the usual protocol and take a risk.
1. The customer chose to forgo their usual order and try something new.
Explanation: The word forgo means to do without or to abstain from, which in this sentence means to not choose their usual order and opt for something new instead.
2. Our teams plan was to forego the traditional method of conducting business.
Explanation: The word forego means to go before or to precede, as in to go before something else or do something different than before. In this sentence, the team decided to do something different than the traditional method of conducting business.
3. Some people choose to forgo luxury and live a simpler life.
Explanation: The word forgo means to do without or abstain from, which in this sentence means that some people choose to not have luxury and instead live a simpler life.
4. The team forgo the traditional celebration this year due to budgetary constraints.
Explanation: The word forgo means to do without or to abstain from, which in this sentence means that the team chose to not have the traditional celebration due to budgetary constraints.
5. The members of the team forego their differences to come to an agreement.
Explanation: The word forego means to go before or to precede, as in to go before something else or do something different than before. In this sentence, the team decided to go before their differences and come to an agreement.
6. The organization decided to forego the usual protocol and take a risk.
Explanation: The word forego means to go before or to precede, as in to go before something else or do something different than before. In this sentence, the organization decided to go before the usual protocol and take a risk instead.
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Download the PDF with a list of commonly confused words made as flashcards for comfortable learning.
List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.