What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
forego
Example
I decided to forego dessert and just have coffee. [forego: verb]
Example
He had to forego his dream of becoming a musician to support his family. [forego: past participle]
waive
Example
The company decided to waive the late fee for the customer. [waive: verb]
Example
She waived her right to remain silent and spoke to the police. [waived: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Forego is more common in everyday language, while waive is more common in legal or formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between forego and waive?
Waive is generally considered more formal than forego, especially when used in legal contexts.
