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Meaning & use

forsook

verb·Advancedliteraryold-fashioned

Last updated

UK/fəˈsʊk/
US/fɔːrˈsʊk/

“forsook” is a form of “forsake”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbtransitiveliterary

    Left someone behind completely, especially a person who needed or trusted you.

    Grammar: Past tense of forsake: he forsook his family.

    Patterns

    • forsook someone
    • forsook someone for something

    He forsook his family and was never heard from again.

    The king's allies forsook him in his hour of need.

    Her friends forsook her after the scandal, and she felt utterly alone.

  2. verbtransitiveliterary

    Gave up a habit, belief, or way of life.

    Grammar: Takes an object such as a habit or a place.

    Patterns

    • forsook something
    • forsook something for something

    She forsook city life for a quiet farm.

    He forsook his old habits after the illness.

    The group forsook its original principles.

Word forms

base formforsake
third person singularforsakes
past participleforsaken
-ing formforsaking

Common combinations

forsook his family
He forsook his family and left for the coast.
forsook all others
He forsook all others and chose her.
forsook his faith
He forsook his faith after the tragedy.
forsook the city
They forsook the city for the countryside.
forsook his duty
The guard forsook his duty and fled.

Synonyms and how they differ

abandoned
Abandoned is the common modern word, while forsook sounds literary and carries a stronger moral sense of betrayal.
deserted
Deserted often applies to leaving a post or a place, especially in the military.
renounced
Renounced means formally giving up a claim or belief, not leaving a person.
left
Left is the plainest term and carries no emotional weight.

Opposites

stayed withsupported

Word family

forsake verb
to abandon or give up completely
forsaken adjective
abandoned and alone
forsaken verb
the past participle of forsake

Commonly confused: forsook or forsake? forsook or forsook vs. forsooth?

forsook vs forsake

Forsook is only the past tense; use forsake in the base form and forsaken after has or have.

forsook vs forsook vs. forsooth

Forsooth is an old word meaning indeed, and has nothing to do with leaving.

Practice

Complete the sentence: Yesterday, he ___ his old friends and moved abroad.

Make it your own

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