To forgo means to give up something you want or could have, usually because you've decided something else is more important. When you forgo dessert to save room for birthday cake later, you're choosing not to have something now for a good reason. When a student forgoes playing video games to finish homework first, they're making a deliberate choice to skip immediate fun for a better outcome.

The word suggests a conscious decision rather than being forced. You might forgo buying a new game to save money for something bigger. A runner might forgo staying up late because rest matters more than watching another episode. Athletes sometimes forgo junk food during training season, choosing their goals over temporary pleasures.

Notice that forgo differs from simply losing something or having it taken away. When you forgo something, you're in control. You're making a trade: giving up one thing to get or do something else that matters more to you.