forgo

present singular third person forgoes · participle present forgoing · past forwent · nonstandard past forgoed · participle past forgone · nonstandard participle past forwent · nonstandard participle past forgoed · alternative proscribed forego

1. transitiveTo do without (something enjoyable); to relinquish.

   I've had to forgo my student discount in exchange for taking the job.

   4 more examples

   Doe not for one repulſe forgoe the purpoſe / That you resolu'd t' effect.

   1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], page 13

   But, what afflicts my peace with keenest ruth, / Is, that I have my inner self abused, / Forgone the home delight of constant truth, / And clear and open soul, so prized in fearless youth.

   1798, [William Wordsworth], “The Female Vagrant”, in Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems, London: […] J[ohn] & A[rthur] Arch, […], →OCLC, page 83

   Mr. Hoyle, who does not believe many multiple-unit diesel services on secondary routes will resist for ever the road transport challenge, would forgo passenger traffic altogether on a little-used route in order to improve the quality of the freight working and reduce its costs by equating the average speed of all trains on the line concerned.

   1960 February, “Talking of Trains”, in Trains Illustrated, page 67

   You might think that Americans buy roughly the same number of fitted sheets as flats. Or, considering the market for electric blankets, duvets, and other covers, that consumers buy even more bottom sheets, simply forgoing the tops.

   1986, New York Magazine, volume 19, number 49, page 20

2. literarytransitiveTo refrain from, to abstain from.

   I shall forgo actually stepping inside, thank you.