verb

forgo

for-GOH/fɔːrˈɡəʊ/

To do without or choose not to have something.

She chooses to forgo the offered dessert.

At a sparsely set dining table, a woman calmly declines an offered slice of cake with a gentle palm-out gesture, leaving her dessert plate empty.

Etymology

Away plus go supplies the image of passing something by. The ancestor already meant both going away or passing over and abstaining or leaving undone, linking movement away with choosing to do without.

In context

ESPN8:02

Jalen green he's decided to just forgo college in general and going to the NBA G League

Jalen Green will make over $500,000 in G League development program - Woj | NBA Countdown

More examples

She forwent the ceremony to stay with her family.
He had forgone several luxuries to save money.
The plan requires forgoing some immediate profit.

Forms

forgo · forgoes · forwent · forgone · forgoing

Similar words

waive: Waive means give up a right or requirement; forgo means choose to do without something more broadly.
abstain: Abstain means refrain from participation or consumption; forgo can concern any benefit or opportunity.