First Known Use: 1529
Dictionary
1neglect
verb ne·glect \ni-ˈglekt\
: to fail to take care of or to give attention to (someone or something)
: to fail to do (something)
Full Definition of NEGLECT
transitive verb
1
: to give little attention or respect to : disregard
2
: to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness
— ne·glect·er noun
See neglect defined for English-language learners
See neglect defined for kids
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Origin of NEGLECT
Related to NEGLECT
Synonym Discussion of NEGLECT
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>.
Rhymes with NEGLECT
abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked
2neglect
noun
: lack of attention or care that someone or something needs
: the condition of not being taken care of
Full Definition of NEGLECT
1
: an act or instance of neglecting something
2
: the condition of being neglected
See neglect defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of NEGLECT
1588
Related to NEGLECT
- Synonyms
- desolation, dilapidation, disrepair, seediness
NEGLECTER Defined for Kids
1neglect
verb ne·glect \ni-ˈglekt\
ne·glect·edne·glect·ing
Definition of NEGLECT for Kids
1
: to fail to give the right amount of attention to <The property has been neglected.>
2
: to fail to do or look after especially because of carelessness <She neglected to say goodbye.>
Synonym Discussion of NEGLECT
neglect and disregard mean to pass over something without giving it any or enough attention. neglect is used when a person does not give, whether deliberately or not, enough attention to something that deserves or requires attention. <You have been neglecting your homework.> disregard is used for deliberately overlooking something usually because it is not considered worth noticing. <He disregarded the “keep out” sign.>
2neglect
noun
Definition of NEGLECT for Kids
1
: lack of attention or care to something or someone <neglect of duty>
2
: the state of not being looked after or given attention <The house suffers from neglect.>
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