WordGarden.ioforbear
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /fɔːˈbɛə/verb
US
- /fɔrˈbɛər/verb
Meanings
Verb
to refrain from doing something
to tolerate or endure patiently
to delay or refrain from enforcing a legal or financial claim
Noun
an ancestor
Beyond the definition
To forbear means to patiently endure something annoying or difficult, or to choose not to do something you could do. Think of a parent who forbears from scolding their child after yet another mess: they are holding back. It is about self-control and patience. You might forbear commenting on someone's bad haircut or forbear spending all your money at once. The word suggests a struggle against impulse; it takes effort to stay calm and not act.
Imagine you're playing a board game with a younger sibling who keeps cheating. It is incredibly frustrating! If you forbear from yelling at them, you are patiently putting up with their behavior and choosing not to react angrily. That's the heart of what "forbear" means—restraint in the face of provocation or difficulty.
Historically, "forbear" carried a stronger sense of actively refraining from something legally allowed—like a creditor forbearing to collect a debt. While that specific usage is less common in everyday conversation today, it still informs the core idea: holding back from an action you have the right or power to take.
In everyday use, the word often appears when someone resists the urge to speak, punish, interrupt, complain, or take advantage of a right. It usually carries a sense of effort: the person could react, but chooses not to. Because of that, the word often feels thoughtful, patient, and a little formal.
So, whether it's resisting the urge to interrupt, tolerating an irritating habit, or choosing not to push a point, "forbear" speaks to patience, self-control, and a deliberate choice not to act on every impulse. It's about choosing restraint over reaction.
Examples
- 1
Formal request
Please forbear from interrupting until the speaker has finished.
- Usage
forbear is formal; forbear from + -ing verb is a common pattern
- 2
Meeting restraint
She forbore to mention the mistake during the meeting.
- 3
Emotional reaction
At the good news, he could not forbear a smile.
- Patterncould not forbear + reaction
could not stop yourself from showing it
See also
Forms and spellings
5 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- forbearnounverb
Forms
- forbearspluralnounverb
- forbearing-ing formverbnoun
- forborepast tenseverbnoun
- forbornepast participleverbnoun