forsake
gb/fɔɹsˈeɪk/ us/fɔɹsˈeɪk/
C1
English
~ 8200
elhagy, cserbenhagy, felhagy, felad
VERB
C1
LITERARY
1
elhagy
B1
cserbenhagy
B2
Usage pattern:
to forsake [someone/something]
He swore he would never forsake his family, no matter how hard life became.
Megesküdött, hogy soha nem hagyja el a családját, bármilyen nehézzé is váljon az élet.
Many felt that the government had forsaken the poorest members of society.
Sokan úgy érezték, hogy a kormány magára hagyta a társadalom legszegényebb tagjait.
She prayed that God would not forsake her in her time of need.
The villagers accused the leader of forsaking them when the crisis began.
As the company collapsed, employees felt utterly forsaken by senior management.
Learner examples
He will not forsake his children.
Nem fogja elhagyni a gyermekeit.
The people felt the king had forsaken them.
Az emberek úgy érezték, hogy a király magukra hagyta őket.
She asked her friends not to forsake her when she was sick.
The soldier felt forsaken by his country.
They said that God would never forsake his people.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "forsake" with the phrase "for the sake of" because they look similar. They are unrelated: "forsake" means to abandon, while "for the sake of" means "for the benefit of" or "for the purpose of." Another issue is using "forsake" in very casual contexts where "leave" or "abandon" is more natural in modern English.
Meaning
abandon someone or a responsibility
Collocations
forsake his family
|forsake her friends
|forsake their duties
|forsake his country
|feel forsaken
|never forsake you
Synonyms
abandon (More common and neutral; lacks the strong emotional or moral tone that 'forsake' often has.)
|
desert (Similar meaning of leaving someone who needs you, but slightly more common and less literary.)
|
betray (Adds a sense of active disloyalty or harming trust, not just leaving.)
Antonyms
support (Emphasizes continuing to help and stand by someone instead of leaving them.)
|
stand by (Focuses on staying loyal to someone, especially in difficult times.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To leave someone or something you should care for, and stop helping or supporting them.
To abandon someone or something that you have a duty, promise, or strong connection to, so that you no longer give help, protection, or support.
VERB
C1
LITERARY
2
Usage pattern:
to forsake [habit/belief/way of life]
After years of conflict, the group finally forsook violence and entered political talks.
Évekig tartó konfliktus után a csoport végül felhagyott az erőszakkal, és politikai tárgyalásokba kezdett.
He forsook his comfortable life in the city to work in remote villages.
Feladta kényelmes városi életét, hogy eldugott falvakban dolgozzon.
In her twenties she forsook the religion of her parents and searched for her own path.
The movement encouraged people to forsake worldly pleasures and live simply.
Determined to change, he forsook his old habits and friends who led him into trouble.
Learner examples
He decided to forsake his bad habits.
Úgy döntött, hogy felhagy a rossz szokásaival.
The group forsook violence and chose peace.
A csoport felhagyott az erőszakkal, és a békét választotta.
She forsook her old life and moved to the countryside.
They forsook their traditions to start a new way of life.
The king forsook his old beliefs after the war.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse "forsake" instead of more natural verbs like "stop," "quit," or "give up" in everyday speech. In modern English, "forsake" sounds formal or literary, so phrases like *"I forsook smoking"* are grammatically correct but unnaturally stiff in casual conversation; "I quit smoking" is more natural.
Meaning
give up a belief or habit
Collocations
forsake violence
|forsake their old ways
|forsake worldly pleasures
|forsake his former life
|forsake bad habits
|forsake their traditions
Synonyms
renounce (Very close in meaning and formality; often used for public or legal rejection of beliefs or positions.)
|
give up (Much more common and informal; broader and less moral-sounding than "forsake.")
|
abandon (Can be used similarly, but is more general and less strongly associated with beliefs or lifestyles.)
Antonyms
keep (To continue a habit or way of life instead of stopping it.)
|
maintain (To continue holding a belief or practice, rather than giving it up.)
Themes
morality
|lifestyle
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To decide to give up a belief, habit, or way of life and not follow it anymore.
To stop following, using, or practicing a belief, habit, way of life, or activity, often as a conscious moral or personal decision.
Grammar
Dictionary form
forsake
IPA
GB/fɔɹsˈeɪk/
US/fɔɹsˈeɪk/
Syllables & stress
for - sake (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sake)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: forsake
- 3rd Person Singular: forsakes
- Present Participle: forsaking
- Past: forsook
- Past Participle: forsaken
Word family
Forms
forsakes
verb
forsaking
verb
forsook
verb
forsaken
verb
Highlights
- Irregular past: forsook Verb
- Irregular past participle: forsaken Verb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.