Cool MateForget about that vs Ignore
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Forget about that
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Ignore
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
Most formal: Ignore
| Forget about that | Ignore | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fərˈɡɛt əˈbaʊt ðæt//🇺🇸 //fərˈɡɛt əˈbaʊt ðæt// | 🇬🇧 //ɪɡˈnɔː//🇺🇸 //ɪɡˈnɔːr// |
| Meaning | Don't think about that anymore. | To pay no attention to something. |
| Example | You should just forget about that mistake and move on. | She chose to ignore the rude comments from her classmates. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | forget about the past, forget about that error, forget about it | ignore a call, ignore the rules, ignore the warning |
| Antonyms | - | acknowledge, pay attention, notice |
| Common mistakes | 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. | 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 in casual conversations to dismiss or move on from a topic. Not appropriate for formal situations. | 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 that vs Ignore
What's the difference between Forget about that and Ignore?
Forget about that: Don't think about that anymore. Ignore: To pay no attention to something.
Which is more formal: Forget about that and Ignore?
Ignore is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Forget about that: You should just forget about that mistake and move on. Ignore: She chose to ignore the rude comments from her classmates.
Can I use Forget about that and Ignore interchangeably?
Not always. Forget about that 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.