stop feeling angry or resentful towards (someone) for an offence, flaw, or mistake:I’ll never forgive David for the way he treated her
no longer feel angry about or wish to punish (an offence, flaw, or mistake):I was willing to forgive all her faults for the sake of our friendship [no object]:he had never found it easy to forgive and forget
cancel (a debt):he proposed that their debts should be forgiven
used in polite expressions as a request to excuse one’s foibles, ignorance, or impoliteness:you will have to forgive my suspicious mind
one could (or may) be forgiven for doing something
it would be understandable if one mistakenly did a particular thing:with the plaster palm trees, you could be forgiven for thinking you were on Hollywood Boulevard