3 syllables: fore, go, ing. Stress on go.
/fɔɹˈɡoʊɪŋ/
Say it backForegoing is the act of choosing not to have or do something; it implies deliberate abstention or sacrifice. In practice, it often appears in contexts like decisions to avoid certain expenses, activities, or privileges. The term balances formal, slightly archaic tone with general applicability, and contrasts with obtaining or pursuing the alternative that is being passed over.
"We are forgoing the planned vacation to save for emergencies."
"The company announced it would be forgoing bonuses this year in favor of job security for staff."
"By forgoing meat for a month, she discovered new flavors and healthier options."
Pronounced /fɔːrˈɡoʊɪŋ/ in US English, with the stress on the second syllable: for-GO-ing. In UK English, you’ll hear /ˈfɔːˌɡəʊɪŋ/ or /fɔːˈɡəʊɪŋ/, with the second syllable reduced slightly and the 'o' in the second syllable closer to /əʊ/. In Australian English, /fɔːˈɡəʊɪŋ/ is common, with a clear but shorter second syllable and a slight Schwa in the second syllable. Tip: keep the first syllable as a long /ɔː/ or /ɔːr/ and release into the diphthong /əʊ/ for the second syllable without delaying the 'iŋ'. Audio reference: consult Cambridge/Oxford pronunciations or Forvo entries for natural connected speech.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (putting it on the first syllable as for-), truncating the second syllable into a simple /ɪŋ/ or /ɪˈŋ/ instead of the /ɪŋ/ sequence after a clear /əʊ/ glide, and mispronouncing the final nasal as /n/ instead of a nasal + silent-r relation in rhotic accents. Correction: emphasize the second syllable with a rounded diphthong /ɡoʊ/ and then finish with /ɪŋ/. Maintain the /ɒr/ vs /ɔːr/ quality in the first syllable and keep the mouth open through the diphthong, then relax into the nasal /ɪŋ/ for natural flow.
In US English, you’ll typically hear /fɔːrˈɡoʊɪŋ/ with a rhotic /r/ in the first syllable and a full /oʊ/ diphthong in the second. UK English may reduce the /r/ in non-rhotic contexts, giving /ˈfɔːˌɡəʊɪŋ/ with a more central second syllable and a lighter /ɡ/ release. Australian English sits between, often /fɔːˈɡəʊɪŋ/ with a clear but less flushed /r/ and a fuller /əʊ/ in the second syllable. All varieties preserve the /ɪŋ/ ending, but vowel quality and rhoticity influence the perceived accent.
The difficulty comes from sequence: a stressed second syllable with a strong /ɡoʊ/ that flows into /ɪŋ/, plus the subtle variation in /ɔː/ vs /ɔ/ across dialects. The combination of a long first vowel, a stressed syllable, and the transition into a nasal can challenge both timing and mouth position. Practicing with minimal pairs and clear syllable separation helps: fore-go-ing.
There isn’t a silent letter in the word when spoken; every symbol contributes to the sound: f-ɔː-ɹ-ɡo-ɪŋ. In rapid speech, the first syllable can have a slight reduction, and the /r/ may soften or disappear in non-rhotic accents, but the letters themselves are pronounced in connected speech. The key is maintaining the /ɡoʊ/ sequence before the /ɪŋ/.
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Foregoing comes from the verb phrase forego, which historically means to go before something in time or to go ahead of something, leading to the sense of foregoing or foregoing action. The root go is Germanic in origin, related to Old English faran/gaan, and fore- is a common English prefix meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The combination has long captured the sense of choosing to avoid or bypass something that might otherwise be pursued. In early English, forego was often written as forego or for-go, and over time the form forgoing emerged as a present participle or gerund to describe the action or result of the decision not to pursue something. The nuance shifted slightly toward a formal or legal/financial register in many modern uses, especially when describing omissions or deliberate sacrifices (e.g., foregoing benefits or opportunities). First known uses date to the medieval period, with the sense evolving through legal and literary usage into contemporary everyday language. The word maintains a strong sense of intentionality and choice, distinguishing it from passive omission. Modern dictionaries recognize forgoing as a standard verb and forgoing/foregoing as accepted spellings depending on context and style guides, with forgoing often preferred in less formal registers and forego for the verb form in many editorial standards.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "foregoing" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "foregoing" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "foregoing"
-ing sounds
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