forgetful

adjective

for·​get·​ful fər-ˈget-fəl How to pronounce forgetful (audio)
fȯr-
1
: likely to forget
2
: characterized by negligent failure to remember : neglectful
3
: inducing oblivion
forgetful sleep
forgetfully adverb
forgetfulness noun

Examples of forgetful in a Sentence

He became forgetful in his old age. we become more forgetful as we get older
Recent Examples on the Web Hur concluded a jury would find Biden a well-meaning old man who was forgetful. Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 White House officials on Friday called the special counsel’s report into President Biden’s handling of classified material politically motivated, escalating their attempts to discredit a document that characterized the president as elderly and forgetful. Katie Glueck, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2024 Flower is the 1960s-era hippie who died trying to hug a bear while high on acid, and remained a bit forgetful and drugged-out while living in the purgatory that is Woodstone Mansion. Michael Schneider, Variety, 16 Feb. 2024 One forgetful moment in the ad shared on Feb. 6, which can still be found in an unlisted YouTube video, shows a man eating spoonfuls of peanut butter while his eye swells up and his face breaks out in hives. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2024 Of course, for renters, this is outrageously creepy and yet another reason to prefer dumb, forgetful mechanical locks. Curbed, 11 Jan. 2024 Because the trunk actually stores moisture, ponytail palm can survive for long periods without watering (perfect for forgetful plant parents). Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2023 Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker With a range of up to 250 feet, Tile’s waterproof Mate Bluetooth tracker helps your most forgetful giftee to keep track of their keys, wallet and other essentials. $17.99 $24.99 28% off Buy Now On Amazon The Best Tech Gifts Under $100 1. Rudie Obias, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2023 For those who feel the same way—always busy, or maybe just a little forgetful—we've come up with a list of the best indoor plants that'll take the work out of plant parenting. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forgetful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of forgetful was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near forgetful

Cite this Entry

“Forgetful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forgetful. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

forgetful

adjective
for·​get·​ful fər-ˈget-fəl How to pronounce forgetful (audio)
fȯr-
: forgetting easily
forgetfully adverb
forgetfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on forgetful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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