Meaning of “forgive” in the English Dictionary

English
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"forgive" in English

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forgive verb [ I or T, not continuous ]
uk ​ /fəˈɡɪv/ us ​ /fɚˈɡɪv/ forgave, forgiven

B1 to stop blaming or being angry with someone for something that person has done, or not punish them for something:

I don't think she's ever quite forgiven me for getting her name wrong that time.
I've never found it easy to forgive and forget (= to behave as if something wrong had never happened).
I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to the kids.
forgive me B2 formal

› used before you ask or say something that might seem rude:

Forgive me for asking, but how much did you pay for your bag?

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forgive a loan/debt

› to say that money does not have to be paid back:

The new program would forgive state loans to new graduates who teach in Nebraska.

(Definition of “forgive” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

American
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"forgive" in American English

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forgive verb [ T ]
us ​ /fərˈɡɪv, fɔr-/ past tense forgave /fərˈɡeɪv, fɔr-/ , past participle forgiven /fərˈɡɪv·ən, fɔr-/

› to stop being angry with someone who has done something wrong:

She apologized and he forgave her.
I can’t forgive someone who has treated me so badly.

forgiveness

noun [ U ] us ​ /fərˈɡɪv·nəs, fɔr-/

›

To my family and friends, I beg your forgiveness for the lies I’ve told.

(Definition of “forgive” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Business
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"forgive" in Business English

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forgive verb [ T ]
uk ​ /fəˈɡɪv/ us ​ forgave, forgiven formal ECONOMICS, FINANCE

› to allow someone to not have to pay a debt:

Japan agreed to forgive up to 100% of the debts owed to it by the world's poorest countries.

forgiveness

noun [ U ]

›

debt/loan forgiveness The legislation also includes special loan forgiveness for public servants such as teachers and firefighters.

(Definition of “forgive” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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