Cool MateDismiss vs Forget about me
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dismiss
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Forget about me
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: DismissMost common: Dismiss
| Dismiss | Forget about me | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //fəˈɡɛt əˈbaʊt miː//🇺🇸 //fərˈɡɛt əˈbaʊt mi// |
| Meaning | To let someone or something go or not consider it. | Don't think about me anymore. |
| Example | The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. | You can just forget about me if I'm causing trouble. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | quickly, immediately, out of hand, be unable to, cannot, not be possible to, as, from, fairly, unfairly, wrongfully, from | forget about someone's feelings, forget about the past, forget about the details |
| Antonyms | embrace, welcome, accept | - |
| 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 | Using 'forget' without 'about'., Confusing with 'remember me'., Incorrectly using in a formal setting. |
| 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. | Used informally to express the desire to be let go or not considered. Avoid in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Dismiss vs Forget about me
What's the difference between Dismiss and Forget about me?
Dismiss: To let someone or something go or not consider it. Forget about me: Don't think about me anymore.
Which is more formal: Dismiss and Forget about me?
Dismiss is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Dismiss and Forget about me?
Dismiss is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Dismiss: The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. Forget about me: You can just forget about me if I'm causing trouble.
Can I use Dismiss and Forget about me interchangeably?
Not always. Dismiss and Forget about me 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.