Cool MateForget about that vs Overlook
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Forget about that
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Overlook
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most formal: Overlook
| Forget about that | Overlook | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //fərˈɡɛt əˈbaʊt ðæt//🇺🇸 //fərˈɡɛt əˈbaʊt ðæt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌəʊvəˈlʊk/","/ˌəʊvəˈlʊks/","/ˌəʊvəˈlʊkt/","/ˌəʊvəˈlʊkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌəʊvərˈlʊk/","/ˌəʊvərˈlʊks/","/ˌəʊvərˈlʊkt/","/ˌəʊvərˈlʊkɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Don't think about that anymore. | To not notice something or to ignore it. |
| Example | You should just forget about that mistake and move on. | From the hilltop, you can overlook the entire city in the distance. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | forget about the past, forget about that error, forget about it | completely, entirely, largely, cannot, cannot afford to, should not, be easily overlooked, something should not be overlooked, completely, entirely, largely, cannot, cannot afford to, should not, be easily overlooked, something should not be overlooked |
| Antonyms | - | notice, acknowledge, spot |
| 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. | 'Overlook' used as a noun instead of a verb., Confusing 'overlook' with 'oversee', which means to supervise., Using 'overlook' with an incorrect preposition (e.g. 'overlook at something'). |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversations to dismiss or move on from a topic. Not appropriate for formal situations. | Commonly used when referring to missed details or ignoring responsibilities. Appropriate in both written and spoken English. Generally not used in very formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Forget about that vs Overlook
What's the difference between Forget about that and Overlook?
Forget about that: Don't think about that anymore. Overlook: To not notice something or to ignore it.
Which is more formal: Forget about that and Overlook?
Overlook 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. Overlook: From the hilltop, you can overlook the entire city in the distance.
Can I use Forget about that and Overlook interchangeably?
Not always. Forget about that and Overlook 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.