Cool MateDon't look back vs Forget
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Don't look back
Top 2,000 (common)
Forget
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most common: Forget
| Don't look back | Forget | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dəʊnt lʊk bæk//🇺🇸 //doʊnt lʊk bæk// | 🇬🇧 /["/fəˈɡet/","/fəˈɡets/","/fəˈɡɒt/","/fəˈɡɒtn/","/fəˈɡetɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fərˈɡet/","/fərˈɡets/","/fərˈɡɑːt/","/fərˈɡɑːtn/","/fərˈɡetɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Don't think about the past. | To fail to remember something. |
| Example | In life, it's important to don't look back and focus on your future. | I always forget where I put my keys. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | don't look back at mistakes, don't look back in fear, don't look back on regrets | 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 | - | remember, recall |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'don't look forward' which means to not anticipate the future., Misinterpreted literally instead of as an idiomatic expression. | '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 | Often used as encouragement not to dwell on past mistakes. Suitable for informal conversations, motivational contexts. Avoid in formal writing. | Use 'forget' in neutral contexts when discussing memory. Avoid in formal writing; consider 'neglect' or 'overlook' instead. |
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Frequently asked questions: Don't look back vs Forget
What's the difference between Don't look back and Forget?
Don't look back: Don't think about the past. Forget: To fail to remember something.
Which is more common: Don't look back and Forget?
Forget is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Don't look back: In life, it's important to don't look back and focus on your future. Forget: I always forget where I put my keys.
Can I use Don't look back and Forget interchangeably?
Not always. Don't look back 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.