Cool MateDismiss vs Forget about that
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dismiss
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Forget about that
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Dismiss
| Dismiss | Forget about that | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //fərˈɡɛt əˈbaʊt ðæt//🇺🇸 //fərˈɡɛt əˈbaʊt ðæt// |
| Meaning | To let someone or something go or not consider it. | Don't think about that anymore. |
| Example | The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. | You should just forget about that mistake and move on. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (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 the past, forget about that error, forget about it |
| 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' in a sentence., Confusing it with 'don't worry about that' - they imply different feelings., Using it in overly formal contexts. |
| 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 in casual conversations to dismiss or move on from a topic. Not appropriate for formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Dismiss vs Forget about that
What's the difference between Dismiss and Forget about that?
Dismiss: To let someone or something go or not consider it. Forget about that: Don't think about that anymore.
Which is more formal: Dismiss and Forget about that?
Dismiss is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Dismiss: The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. Forget about that: You should just forget about that mistake and move on.
Can I use Dismiss and Forget about that interchangeably?
Not always. Dismiss and Forget about that 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.