ignore

1 of 2

verb

ig·​nore ig-ˈnȯr How to pronounce ignore (audio)
ignored; ignoring
Synonyms of ignore

transitive verb

1
a
: to refuse to take notice of
I'm ignoring their comments.
b
: to do nothing about or in response to
cannot just ignore the warning signs
2
law : to reject (a bill of indictment) as ungrounded
ignorable
ig-ˈnȯr-ə-bəl How to pronounce ignore (audio)
adjective
ignorer noun

ignorer

2 of 2

noun

ig·​nor·​er
igˈnōrə(r), 
-nȯr-
plural -s
: one that ignores

Synonyms of ignore

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for ignore

neglect, disregard, ignore, overlook, slight, forget mean to pass over without giving due attention.

neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

habitually neglected his studies

disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

disregarded the wishes of his family

ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

ignored the snide remark

overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

in my rush I overlooked a key example

slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

slighted several major authors in her survey

forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

forget what others say

Examples of ignore in a Sentence

Verb She tried to ignore him but he wouldn't leave her alone. I'll ignore that last remark. If we continue to ignore these problems they will only get worse. They ignored the warning signs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Blostein said Tradeweb shares are too attractive to ignore at current levels. — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 5 July 2026 Their food might be the first mention in Talat’s many accolades, but their bar program can’t be ignored. — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026 Artisanal and small-scale gold mining accounts for the majority of gold extracted in the sprawling country, where safety standards are largely ignored. — Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 Older adults are particularly vulnerable to identity theft and other scams and are often advised to ignore junk mail and calls from telemarketers. — Susan Jaffe, NPR, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ignore

Word History

Etymology

Verb

obsolete ignore to be ignorant of, from French ignorer, from Latin ignorare, from ignarus ignorant, unknown, from in- + gnoscere, noscere to know — more at know

First Known Use

Verb

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of ignore was in 1682

Rhymes for ignore

See All Rhymes for ignore

Browse Nearby Words

ignoration
ignore
ignorer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ignore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ignore. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ignore

verb
ig·​nore ig-ˈnō(ə)r How to pronounce ignore (audio)
-ˈnȯ(ə)r
ignored; ignoring
: to refuse to notice : pay no attention to
ignored his advice
ignorable
-ˈnō(ə)r-ə-bəl How to pronounce ignore (audio)
-ˈnȯ(ə)r-
adjective
ignorer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ignore

Nglish: Translation of ignore for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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