To ignore means to deliberately pay no attention to something or someone. When you ignore your little brother's teasing, you act as if he isn't even there, refusing to react or respond. When a teacher ignores a student's raised hand, they look past them without calling on them.

Ignoring something is an active choice. You might not see a bird fly past your window, but that's not ignoring it. You ignore something when you're aware of it but decide not to give it your attention or energy. A coach might tell players to ignore trash talk from the opposing team and focus on playing well instead.

Sometimes ignoring something is wise. If someone is trying to annoy you, ignoring their taunts often makes them stop. But other times, ignoring something makes problems worse. Ignoring a small leak in the roof can turn into a big water stain on the ceiling, which eventually becomes a serious repair problem.

People feel hurt when others ignore them because it signals “you don't matter to me.” Being ignored can sting more than direct criticism because at least criticism acknowledges your existence. When you ignore someone's good work or ignore their feelings, you're withholding the attention and recognition that everyone needs.