foray
Americannoun
verb (used without object)
-
to make a raid; pillage; maraud.
-
to invade or make one's way, as for profit or adventure.
foreign industries foraying into U.S. markets.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a short raid or incursion
-
a first attempt or new undertaking
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have forayedperfect
-
has forayedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have been forayingperfect progressive
-
is forayingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
has been forayingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are forayingprogressive
-
am forayingprogressive 1st person singular
-
forayssingular 3rd person
-
forayingparticiple
Past
-
had forayedperfect
-
was forayingprogressive singular
-
had been forayingperfect progressive
-
were forayingprogressive plural
-
forayedparticiple
-
forayedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of foray
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English forraien, apparently by back formation from forrayour, forreour, forrier, from Old French forrier, fourrier, equivalent to fo(u)rr(er), derivative of fuerre “provender” ( see forage) + -ier -ier 2
Explanation
Foray means brief excursion. If you're in the army, that's a literal excursion into enemy territory. For the rest of us, it means trying something out. "My foray into rugby ended with my spending a week in the hospital." This word derives from the Latin fuerre 'straw', which led into Old French as fourager 'forage,' or search for food. Think of soldiers stealing food from the enemy as maybe how this word first came to be used. Even if that is historically inaccurate, your foray into amateur word-sleuthing will help you remember this word.
Vocabulary lists containing foray
To Kill a Mockingbird
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 1–6
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Boris Karloff provides narration, with additional voices by Thurl Ravenscroft and June Foray.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 25, 2021
Cage’s brief brush with mainstream celebrity is recounted in John Cage: A Mycological Foray, an elegant art book that delves deep into the composer’s lifelong fascination with mushrooms.
From The Guardian • Aug. 19, 2020
John Cage: A Mycological Foray — Variations on Mushrooms,” Atelier Éditions, $55, limited collectors edition with recipes from atelier-editions.com; regular edition sold in bookstores starting July 21.
From New York Times • Jul. 13, 2020
Foray Golf: The fashion-forward women's golf brand only does one sale a year and it starts on Black Friday, so miss it and you'll have to wait until next year.
From Golf Digest • Nov. 27, 2019
“They use those guns that fire pieces of metal. Foray guns.”
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
