forfeiting

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitiveformal

   Losing a right, possession or chance because of breaking a rule or making a choice, as the -ing form of forfeit.

   Grammar: Takes an object: forfeiting the deposit.

   Patterns

   • forfeiting something
   • by forfeiting something

   By leaving early, he risks forfeiting his deposit.

   The team ended up forfeiting the match after too few players arrived.

   She is forfeiting her chance of a scholarship by not applying.

2. 2verbtransitiveformal

   Giving something up willingly, as a sacrifice or for a larger goal.

   Grammar: Takes an object: forfeiting a holiday.

   Patterns

   • forfeit something for something

   He is forfeiting a holiday to finish the project.

   Forfeiting sleep to study rarely helps in the long run.

Word forms

Common combinations

forfeiting a deposit

Cancelling now means forfeiting a deposit.

forfeiting the game

Forfeiting the game was an unhappy choice.

forfeiting the right

She risks forfeiting the right to appeal.

forfeiting your chance

Don't risk forfeiting your chance to win.

forfeiting rights

Forfeiting rights is a risk in broken contracts.

Synonyms and how they differ

losing

Losing is the everyday word, whereas forfeiting suggests a penalty, rule or deliberate cost.

surrendering

Surrendering suggests giving something up under pressure, not as a penalty.

sacrificing

Sacrificing stresses a deliberate giving up for something better.

waiving

Waiving is a formal and voluntary giving up of a right.

Opposites

Word family

forfeit verb

to lose as a penalty

forfeit noun

something lost as a penalty

forfeiture noun

the act of losing something as a penalty

Commonly confused: forfeiting or foreseeing?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “forfeiting”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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