forsake

/fɔɹˈseɪk/

Group 15Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(verb)
To abandon or renounce
GRE

Example in Context

The scientist forsook a lucrative career in the private sector to pursue basic research that she believed would benefit humanity.

Synonyms

abandondesertleave

Etymology

To abandon or give up something, often with emotion.

  • forsaken (Old English) — to abandon

Memory Aid

🐍Sounds like “for snake

Imagine someone yelling 'I FORSAKE this SNAKE!' while dramatically tossing it away!

Visual Association

🚪A person dramatically walking away from a door, leaving behind a crying pet snake.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “forsake” mean on the GRE?

forsake (verb) means “To abandon or renounce”. The scientist forsook a lucrative career in the private sector to pursue basic research that she believed would benefit humanity.

How to remember “forsake” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “forsake” sounds like “for snake”. Imagine someone yelling 'I FORSAKE this SNAKE!' while dramatically tossing it away!

What are synonyms for “forsake”?

Common synonyms: abandon, desert, leave.