- the past participle of forbear1
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
for•borne
(fôr bôrn′, -bōrn′),USA pronunciation v.
- pp. of forbear 1.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
forborne /fɔːˈbɔːn/ vb
for•bear1 /fɔrˈbɛr/USA pronunciation
v., -bore, -borne, -bear•ing.
for•bear2 /ˈfɔrˌbɛr/USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to refrain or abstain from: [no object]I wanted to argue but decided to forbear.[~ + from + object]should forbear from saying cruel things.[~ + verb-ing]He forbore smoking.
for•bear2 /ˈfɔrˌbɛr/USA pronunciation n.
for•bear1
(fôr bâr′),USA pronunciation v., -bore, -borne, -bear•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
for•bear′er, n.
for•bear′ing•ly, adv.
for•bear2 (fôr′bâr′),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
- to refrain or abstain from;
desist from. - to keep back;
withhold. - [Obs.]to endure.
v.i.
- to refrain;
hold back. - to be patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation.
- Middle English forberen, Old English forberan. See for-, bear1 bef. 900
for•bear′ing•ly, adv.
- 1. forgo, sacrifice, renounce.
for•bear2 (fôr′bâr′),USA pronunciation n.
- forebear.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
forbear /fɔːˈbɛə/ vb ( -bears, -bearing, -bore, -borne)
- when intr, often followed by from or an infinitive: to cease or refrain (from doing something)
- archaic to tolerate or endure (misbehaviour, mistakes, etc)
forbear /ˈfɔːˌbɛə/ n
- a variant spelling of forebear