To forgive means to let go of anger or resentment toward someone who has hurt you or done something wrong. When you forgive, you decide not to hold a mistake against someone anymore, even though they may have caused you pain or disappointment.

Forgiveness doesn't mean pretending nothing happened or that what someone did was okay. If your friend breaks your favorite toy on purpose, forgiving them means you stop being angry about it, but you still remember what happened. You might be more careful about lending that friend your things in the future.

People often struggle with forgiveness because hurt feelings can linger. When a classmate spreads a rumor about you, the sting of betrayal doesn't vanish instantly. Forgiveness is something you choose to do, sometimes gradually, as you decide that holding onto anger hurts you more than it hurts the person who wronged you.

Sometimes people ask for forgiveness by apologizing: “Please forgive me for losing your book.” Other times you might forgive someone without them asking, simply because carrying around resentment feels like dragging a heavy weight everywhere you go. Forgiveness can bring relief to both people, like setting down something that's been weighing you down.