Cool MateForget about me vs Ignore
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Forget about me
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Ignore
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
Most formal: IgnoreMost common: Ignore
| Forget about me | Ignore | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fəˈɡɛt əˈbaʊt miː//🇺🇸 //fərˈɡɛt əˈbaʊt mi// | 🇬🇧 //ɪɡˈnɔː//🇺🇸 //ɪɡˈnɔːr// |
| Meaning | Don't think about me anymore. | To pay no attention to something. |
| Example | You can just forget about me if I'm causing trouble. | She chose to ignore the rude comments from her classmates. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | forget about someone's feelings, forget about the past, forget about the details | ignore a call, ignore the rules, ignore the warning |
| Antonyms | - | acknowledge, pay attention, notice |
| Common mistakes | Using 'forget' without 'about'., Confusing with 'remember me'., Incorrectly using in a formal setting. | Confused with 'neglect' - ignoring implies a choice, neglecting may imply carelessness., Misused in passive forms - typically, ignore is active., Incorrect tense forms - ensure correct past or continuous forms. |
| Usage notes | Used informally to express the desire to be let go or not considered. Avoid in formal contexts. | Used in everyday conversation and writing. It is neutral; avoid in formal contexts where precise attention is needed. |
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Frequently asked questions: Forget about me vs Ignore
What's the difference between Forget about me and Ignore?
Forget about me: Don't think about me anymore. Ignore: To pay no attention to something.
Which is more formal: Forget about me and Ignore?
Ignore is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Forget about me and Ignore?
Ignore is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Forget about me: You can just forget about me if I'm causing trouble. Ignore: She chose to ignore the rude comments from her classmates.
Can I use Forget about me and Ignore interchangeably?
Not always. Forget about me and Ignore 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.