Forbear
verb
To hold back from doing something; to restrain.
Despite his desire to argue, he decided to forbear.
Often appears as...
- forbear to comment
- forbear from acting
verb
To be patient or endure; to tolerate.
She must forbear his silence, trusting he will open up in due time.
Often appears as...
- forbear criticism
- forbear judgment
verb
To not use or consume something; to abstain.
He chose to forbear eating until sunset.
Often appears as...
- forbear food
- forbear drink
noun
One who restrains himself, or deserts from obligation.
Showing patience, the forbear chose not to retaliate.
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
verb
To hold back from doing something; to restrain.
Despite his desire to argue, he decided to forbear.
Often appears as...
- forbear to comment
- forbear from acting
verb
To be patient or endure; to tolerate.
She must forbear his silence, trusting he will open up in due time.
Often appears as...
- forbear criticism
- forbear judgment
verb
To not use or consume something; to abstain.
He chose to forbear eating until sunset.
Often appears as...
- forbear food
- forbear drink
noun
One who restrains himself, or deserts from obligation.
Showing patience, the forbear chose not to retaliate.
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Self-control
Shows one's ability to control their impulses or actions.
He wanted to yell, but he forbeared.
Pro Tip 2/3Professional Decorum
Often used in formal contexts implying professional restraint.
The lawyer had strong opinions but forbeared in court.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Distance
Can suggest emotional detachment when avoiding a reaction.
Despite the insult, she forbeared from responding.
Pro Tip 1/3Self-control
Shows one's ability to control their impulses or actions.
He wanted to yell, but he forbeared.
Pro Tip 2/3Professional Decorum
Often used in formal contexts implying professional restraint.
The lawyer had strong opinions but forbeared in court.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Distance
Can suggest emotional detachment when avoiding a reaction.
Despite the insult, she forbeared from responding.
Pro Tip 1/3Self-control
Shows one's ability to control their impulses or actions.
He wanted to yell, but he forbeared.
Pro Tip 2/3Professional Decorum
Often used in formal contexts implying professional restraint.
The lawyer had strong opinions but forbeared in court.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Distance
Can suggest emotional detachment when avoiding a reaction.
Despite the insult, she forbeared from responding.
Compare with
abstainavoidcontrolendurehold backrefrainresisttolerate
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Video examples
Murray Gell-Mann: Beauty...
It's the same theory of gravity. So he said that this principle of nature, "This principle of nature being very remote from the conceptions of philosophers, I forbore to describe it in that book,
Video examples
Murray Gell-Mann: Beauty...
It's the same theory of gravity. So he said that this principle of nature, "This principle of nature being very remote from the conceptions of philosophers, I forbore to describe it in that book,
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Ellen Key
Swedish Writer
No one who passively endures an injustice against himself has the material in him to struggle for the rights of others. The one who patiently forbears becomes an accessory to the injustice done to others. He who resists the injustice which he himself meets can open up the way to a higher right for others.
Quote examples
Robert Kennedy
American Politician
When our forbears - yours and mine - came to America, they came because this country promised them something. It promised them an opportunity, nourished by education, not merely to grind for a bare living, but to strive for a good life.
Quote examples
Eric Liu
American Writer
Republicans say they want citizenship to truly mean something. Let's be equal-opportunity about it and test everyone, including those very Republicans and others whose forbears came here generations ago.
Quote examples
Robert Louis Stevenson
Scottish Writer
Give us grace and strength to forbear and to persevere. Give us courage and gaiety and the quiet mind, spare to us our friends, soften to us our enemies.
Quote examples
James H. Douglas, Jr.
American Politician
Our forbears worked hard this difficult land, and their reward was the freedom and independence of self-sufficiency.
Quote examples
Epictetus
Greek Philosopher
The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing.
Quote examples
Samuel Smiles
Scottish Author
The wise man... if he would live at peace with others, he will bear and forbear.
Quote examples
Edmund Waller
English Poet
Could we forbear dispute, and practise love, We should agree as angels do above.
Quote examples
Samuel Johnson
English Writer
If pleasure was not followed by pain, who would forbear it?
Quote examples
Ellen Key
Swedish Writer
No one who passively endures an injustice against himself has the material in him to struggle for the rights of others. The one who patiently forbears becomes an accessory to the injustice done to others. He who resists the injustice which he himself meets can open up the way to a higher right for others.
Quote examples
Robert Kennedy
American Politician
When our forbears - yours and mine - came to America, they came because this country promised them something. It promised them an opportunity, nourished by education, not merely to grind for a bare living, but to strive for a good life.
Quote examples
Eric Liu
American Writer
Republicans say they want citizenship to truly mean something. Let's be equal-opportunity about it and test everyone, including those very Republicans and others whose forbears came here generations ago.
Quote examples
Robert Louis Stevenson
Scottish Writer
Give us grace and strength to forbear and to persevere. Give us courage and gaiety and the quiet mind, spare to us our friends, soften to us our enemies.
Quote examples
James H. Douglas, Jr.
American Politician
Our forbears worked hard this difficult land, and their reward was the freedom and independence of self-sufficiency.
Quote examples
Epictetus
Greek Philosopher
The two powers which in my opinion constitute a wise man are those of bearing and forbearing.
Quote examples
Samuel Smiles
Scottish Author
The wise man... if he would live at peace with others, he will bear and forbear.
Quote examples
Edmund Waller
English Poet
Could we forbear dispute, and practise love, We should agree as angels do above.
Quote examples
Samuel Johnson
English Writer
If pleasure was not followed by pain, who would forbear it?
Example 1 of 9
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