Main Difference – Between Forego vs Forgo
Despite the similar pronunciation, forego and forgo have different origins and different meanings. Forgo means to do without something or abstain from something. Forego originally means to go before. This dissimilarity in meanings is the main difference between forego and forgo. However, there are some instances where forego is used as a variant spelling of forgo. We’ll look at all these discrepancies in this article.
Forego – Meaning and Usage
Forego originally means to go before or precede in time or place. It is created by adding the prefix fore to the verb go. The prefix fore always implies the meaning before. The past tense of forego is forewent, and the past participle is foregone. Forego also takes a noun form; the noun form of forego is foregoer.
Your reputation foregoes you.
The previews will forego the feature film.
He ordered the announcement to be released immediately so that it foregoes the news report.
The drummers are foregoers to the event.
The black cable foregoes the red cable.
However, it is also important to know that forego and forgo are sometimes considered as variant spellings of the same verb in modern context. Many writers use forgo and forego interchangeably, and the original meaning of forego is rarely used. Even dictionaries such as Oxford and Cambridge list these two verbs as variant spellings. So, it is not inaccurate to use these words interchangeably. Nevertheless, it is always good to know that these words were not originally interchangeable, and that forego also has a specific meaning.
You might have also heard of the phrase ‘foregone conclusion’. The adjective foregone is actually formed by the verb forego. This expression refers to a result that is obvious to everyone before it happens.
Forgo – Meaning and Usage
Forgo means to do without something, abstain something or to pass up something voluntarily. The past tense of forgo is forwent and the past participle is forgone. To forgo something is to willingly abstain from something. For example,
Her husband convinced her to forgo her career and stay at home.
I had to forgo breakfast because I was getting late for the interview.
I wanted to forgo the desert and leave while we could.
He promised to forgo the services of his personal assistant.
She decided to forgo her right to a trial and simply plead guilty.
I had to forgo breakfast today since I was getting late for the class.
Difference Between Forego and Forgo
Meaning
Forgo means to abstain from, relinquish or pass up something voluntarily.
Forego means going before or to precede in time or place.
Interchangeability
Forgo means to abstain from.
Forego is also used as a variant spelling of forgo.
Origin
Forgo uses the prefix for, which indicates abstention, or renunciation
Forego uses the prefix fore, which means before in place, time, etc.
Change
The meaning of forgo has not changed much.
The meaning of forego has undergone a change in the contemporary context.
