Meaning & use
forbears
Last updated
Ancestors or forefathers, especially those from whom a person's family or character is descended.
See it in a sentence
Her forbears settled in the valley three generations ago.
The clan takes pride in the traditions passed down from its forbears.
A note on using this word
Often confused with the verb "forbears" (holds back); this ancestral sense is more commonly spelled "forebears."
Words with a similar meaning
ancestorsforefathers
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
descendantsoffspring
Another way to use it
2. verb
Third-person singular present of "forbear": refrains or holds back from doing something.
He forbears from commenting on his colleague's mistakes.
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