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Forget vs Neglect - What's the difference?

forget | neglect |

In transitive terms the difference between forget and neglect

is that forget is to unintentionally leave something behind while neglect is to fail to do or carry out something due to oversight or carelessness.

As a noun neglect is

the act of neglecting.

forget

English

Verb

  • To lose remembrance of.
    • I have forgotten most of the things I learned in school.
  • * 1922 , (Margery Williams), (The Velveteen Rabbit)
    • For at least two hours the Boy loved him, and then Aunts and Uncles came to dinner, and there was a great rustling of tissue paper and unwrapping of parcels, and in the excitement of looking at all the new presents the Velveteen Rabbit was forgotten .
  • To unintentionally not do, neglect.
    • I forgot to buy flowers for my wife at our 14th wedding anniversary.
  • To unintentionally leave something behind.
    • I forgot my car keys.
  • To cease remembering.
    • Let's just forget about it.
  • (slang) (euphemism for) fuck, screw (a mild oath).
    • Forget you!

    Usage notes

    * In sense 1 and 4 this is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) . * In sense 2 this is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. * See

    Synonyms

    * obliviate, overlook, pass over, disremember

    Antonyms

    * acquire, learn, mind, recall, recollect, remember, reminisce

    Derived terms

    * forget about * forgetful * forget-me-not * forget oneself * forgettable * forgetter * unforgettable

    References

    * *

    Statistics

    * English irregular verbs 1000 English basic words

    neglect

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (label) To fail to care for or attend to something.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
    • I hope / My absence doth neglect no great designs.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
    • This, my long suffering and my day of grace, / Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste.
  • (label) To omit to notice; to forbear to treat with attention or respect; to slight.
  • (label) To fail to do or carry out something due to oversight or carelessness.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2014-06-14, volume=411, issue=8891, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= It's a gas , passage=One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains.

    Derived terms

    * benign neglect * neglectful * neglectfully * neglectfulness

    Related terms

    * negligee * negligence

    Noun

  • The act of neglecting.
  • The state of being neglected.
  • Habitual lack of care.

    • Synonyms

    * carelessness * negligence