Meaning & use
ignore
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To choose not to listen to, notice or respond to someone or something.
Grammar: Always takes an object: ignore the warning.
Patterns
- ignore someone
- ignore something
She ignored his rude comment.
Drivers who ignore the signs risk a fine.
I called her name, but she ignored me.
verbtransitive
To fail to consider an important fact.
Grammar: Often an abstract object: ignore the evidence.
Patterns
- ignore the fact that something
The plan ignores the cost of maintenance.
You cannot ignore the fact that prices are rising.
Word forms
| third person singular | ignores |
|---|---|
| past tense | ignored |
| past participle | ignored |
| -ing form | ignoring |
Common combinations
- ignore a warning
- He ignored the warning.
- completely ignore
- She completely ignored my email.
- ignore the advice
- They ignored the advice of experts.
- conveniently ignore
- The report conveniently ignores the risks.
- easy to ignore
- The noise is easy to ignore.
Synonyms and how they differ
- disregard
- More formal; often for rules, advice or facts.
- overlook
- Suggests failing to notice, often by accident.
- snub
- Means to ignore someone rudely and in a way meant to hurt.
- neglect
- Suggests failing to look after something that needs care.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: ignore or ignorant?
ignore vs ignorant
Ignorant describes a person lacking knowledge; ignore is a verb meaning to pay no attention.
Practice
He decided to ___ the rude message and not reply.
Choose one answer.
Ignore means deliberately pay no attention. Miss and forget imply accident, which does not fit a decision.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ignore”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.