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GRE vocabulary

forbear

verbHigh-frequency wordMore F words

to refrain from doing something out of restraint or patience

Word origin: From Old English forberan, to bear with or endure.

In a sentence

Forbear in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing forbear in a sentence.

She chose to forbear from commenting until she had heard both sides.

She chose to forbear from correcting the speaker, judging that a public rebuke would only embarrass him.

Synonyms
refrainabstaindesist
Antonyms
persistindulgecontinue
Usage & nuance

Using “forbear” well

As a verb, forbear means to hold back or refrain from acting, especially out of patience or restraint. Do not confuse it with the noun forebear, meaning an ancestor, which is spelled with an e.

Common questions

Questions about “forbear

Forbear (verb) means to refrain from doing something out of restraint or patience
Here is forbear used in an example sentence: "She chose to forbear from commenting until she had heard both sides." Another example: "She chose to forbear from correcting the speaker, judging that a public rebuke would only embarrass him."
Common synonyms for forbear include refrain, abstain, desist.
Antonyms of forbear include persist, indulge, continue.
Clusters with refrain, abstain, and desist, opposed by persist, indulge, and continue. The homophone forebear, an ancestor, is the trap, so watch whether the sentence calls for restraint or lineage.
Yes. Forbear is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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