Cool MateDismiss vs Forget
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dismiss
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Forget
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most common: Forget
| Dismiss | Forget | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/fəˈɡet/","/fəˈɡets/","/fəˈɡɒt/","/fəˈɡɒtn/","/fəˈɡetɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fərˈɡet/","/fərˈɡets/","/fərˈɡɑːt/","/fərˈɡɑːtn/","/fərˈɡetɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To let someone or something go or not consider it. | To fail to remember something. |
| Example | The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. | I always forget where I put my keys. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | quickly, immediately, out of hand, be unable to, cannot, not be possible to, as, from, fairly, unfairly, wrongfully, from | completely, quite, totally, seem to, tend to, want to, about, forget all about something, keep forgetting, largely forgotten, completely, quite, totally, seem to, tend to, want to, about, forget all about something, keep forgetting, largely forgotten, completely, quite, totally, seem to, tend to, want to, about, forget all about something, keep forgetting, largely forgotten |
| Antonyms | embrace, welcome, accept | remember, recall |
| Common mistakes | Using 'dismiss' without an object (e.g., saying 'I dismiss' instead of 'I dismiss the idea'), Confusing with 'miss' (to fail to notice or understand), Overusing in casual speech where 'ignore' may be more appropriate | 'Forget' is incorrectly used with a gerund (e.g., 'forget doing' instead of 'forget to do')., Confusing 'forget' with 'forgive' which have different meanings., Using 'forget' inappropriately in passive forms. |
| Usage notes | Use 'dismiss' when you want to indicate that something is not worth consideration. It's neutral and should be avoided in very formal writing. | Use 'forget' in neutral contexts when discussing memory. Avoid in formal writing; consider 'neglect' or 'overlook' instead. |
Frequently asked questions: Dismiss vs Forget
What's the difference between Dismiss and Forget?
Dismiss: To let someone or something go or not consider it. Forget: To fail to remember something.
Which is more common: Dismiss and Forget?
Forget is the most common in everyday English.
Are Dismiss and Forget the same CEFR level?
Dismiss: B2, Forget: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Dismiss and Forget interchangeably?
Not always. Dismiss and Forget are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.