Word: ignore (verb)

Associations

To ignore means to deliberately pay no attention to something or someone. It can imply a choice to not acknowledge or respond to something.

• Example 1: "She chose to ignore the rude comments." This shows that she decided not to pay attention to what was said.
• Example 2: "If you ignore the warning signs, you might get into trouble." Here, ignoring means not heeding important information.
• Example 3: "He tried to ignore his feelings of sadness." In this case, it means he is attempting to not acknowledge his emotions.

A well-known synonym for "ignore" is "disregard." The main difference is that "disregard" often has a more formal tone and can imply a lack of respect for something important, while "ignore" can simply mean not paying attention.

Substitution

Other words or phrases that can be used instead of "ignore" include:

• "overlook" – which means to miss something by not noticing it.
• "neglect" – which means to fail to care for something or someone properly.
• "shun" – which means to deliberately avoid someone or something.

Using these words can change the meaning slightly; for example, "overlook" suggests an unintentional failure to notice, while "shun" implies a conscious choice to avoid.

Deconstruction

The word "ignore" comes from the Latin root "ignorare," which means "not knowing." The prefix "ig-" comes from "in-" meaning "not," and "norare" means "to know." This shows that to ignore something is to not know it or to act as if you do not know it.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you chose to ignore someone or something? What was the reason?
• How might ignoring a problem lead to bigger issues later?
• Are there situations where ignoring something is the best choice? Why or why not?