What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
forego
Example
I will have to forego my vacation this year to save money for my child's education. [forego: verb]
Example
The athlete decided to forego dessert in order to maintain their strict diet. [foregoing: present participle]
forgo
Example
I had to forgo my morning coffee because I was running late. [forgo: verb]
Example
She decided to forgo the expensive dress and buy a cheaper one instead. [forgone: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Forgo is more commonly used than forego in everyday language. Forgo is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while forego is less common and more formal, making it more suitable for academic or professional writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between forego and forgo?
Forego is more formal than forgo. It is often used in academic or professional writing, while forgo is more suitable for informal or everyday language.