[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/forgive/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [F](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/f/) / forgive # forgive verb (forgive, forgives, forgave, forgiven, forgiving) «forgive» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. To stop being angry with someone who did something wrong to you, and not try to punish them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forgive/#m1) 2. To let someone off paying money they owe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forgive/#m2) 3. (forgive me) A polite way to say sorry before saying or asking something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forgive/#m3) ### In the lessons In feelings and friendship lessons, after someone apologises, forgiving them helps both people move on; forgiving does not mean that what happened was all right, or that you must stay where you are unsafe. In stories, a forgiving hero ends a quarrel. Phrases: «forgive someone for something», «forgive and forget», «forgive me, but ...», «I'll never forgive you». ### Examples - I forgave my brother for breaking my toy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forgive/#x1) - Please forgive me — I didn't mean to hurt you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forgive/#x2) - She found it hard to forgive her friend. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forgive/#x3) - Forgive and forget, Grandma always says. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forgive/#x4) - Will you ever forgive me? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forgive/#x5) - Forgive me, but is this seat free? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forgive/#x6) - He forgave the bully when he said sorry and stopped. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forgive/#x7) - The bank forgave the farmers' debts after the flood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forgive/#x8) - "Ah, sir, forgive me!" cried the merchant. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forgive/#x9) ### Note Irregular: forgive, forgave, (have) forgiven. Noun: «forgiveness». Adjective: «forgiving». You can forgive someone and still tell an adult about something harmful; forgiving is not keeping a bad secret. ## In Jewish tradition It is God pardoning wrongdoing so that punishment is held back. Abraham asks God to forgive Sodom for the sake of the righteous. **Interpretation.** Abraham's plea is read as the first great prayer for others, teaching that a few righteous people can protect a city. Forgiveness is tied to repentance and to the fast of Yom Kippur. ### Examples - And the LORD said: 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will forgive all the place for their sake.' (Torah GEN.18.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forgive/#x1) - Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep away and not forgive the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? (Torah GEN.18.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forgive/#x2) - And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father.' And Joseph wept when they spoke unto him. (Torah GEN.50.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forgive/#x3) - See mine affliction and my travail; and forgive all my sins. (Writings PSA.25.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forgive/#x4) - O LORD our God, Thou didst answer them; a forgiving God wast Thou unto them, though Thou tookest vengeance of their misdeeds. (Writings PSA.99.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forgive/#x5) - then hear Thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy people Israel, and bring them back unto the land which Thou gavest unto their fathers. (Prophets 1KI.8.34, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forgive/#x6) ### Note Irregular: forgive, forgave, (have) forgiven. Noun: «forgiveness». Adjective: «forgiving». You can forgive someone and still tell an adult about something harmful; forgiving is not keeping a bad secret. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «forgive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/forgive/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«forgive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/forgive.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «forgive» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/forgive/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«forgive» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/forgive.html) on Mova free.