foray

[fawr-ey, for-ey]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR foray ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a quick raid, usually for the purpose of taking plunder: Vikings made a foray on the port.

a quick, sudden attack: The defenders made a foray outside the walls.

an initial venture: a successful foray into politics.

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)

to ravage in search of plunder; pillage.

Nearby words

Origin of foray

1350–1400; Middle English forraien, apparently by back formation from forrayour, forreour, forrier < Old French forrier, fourrier, equivalent to fo(u)rr(er), derivative of fuerre provender (see forage) + -ier -ier²

SYNONYMS FOR foray

1. attack, assault, invasion, incursion, sortie.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR foray ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsfor·ay·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for foray

But Jeff, who began his foray into pot gastronomy as a hobby, is rapidly turning it into a full-time pot-repreneurial business.
Meet the Julia Child of Weed|Justin Jones|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He claims his foray with smack was explicitly for research and meant to be short-term, but he became addicted.
Five Journalists Who Did Drugs for Work|Emily Shire|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So far, Ready for Hillary's foray into off-year elections is mixed.
Ready for Hillary Super PAC Throws In for 2014 Midterms|David Freedlander|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hourani credits Grumbach for his foray into the haute couture world, first asking him to become an invited member of the Chambre.
Rad Hourani, The First Unisex Couture Designer|Erin Cunningham|January 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This is the publication's first foray into eCommerce after launching a shopable holiday gift guide last year.
Is Emilia Jardine-Paterson Kate Middleton’s Secret Stylist?; The Wall Street Journal Launches Online Shopping Platform|The Fashion Beast Team|November 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Once in the winter a party of Highlanders were out on a foray.
Jim Spurling, Fisherman|Albert Walter Tolman
The foray went forward, fires rose, and herschip might have been seen on every side.
The History of the Reformation of Religion in Scotland|John Knox
Arrelsford stepped to the door, and Foray busied himself with the clicking instruments.
Secret Service|Cyrus Townsend Brady
And Mrs. Pendarrel owned to herself that her husband was but ill-qualified to head a foray.
Trevethlan: (Vol 2 of 3)|William Davy Watson
But the skill of the leader of the foray was not always sufficient to bring his followers safely back to their homes and families.
Border Raids and Reivers|Robert Borland

British Dictionary definitions for foray

foray

noun

a short raid or incursion

a first attempt or new undertaking

verb

to raid or ravage (a town, district, etc)

Derived Formsforayer, noun

Word Origin for foray

C14: from forrayen to pillage, from Old French forreier, from forrier forager, from fuerre fodder; see forage

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for foray

foray

late 14c., Scottish, from the verb (14c.), perhaps a back-formation of Middle English forreyer "raider, forager" (mid-14c.), from Old French forrier, from forrer "to forage" (see forage (n.)). Disused by 18c.; revived by Scott.

foray

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of foray

Examples from the Web for foray

foray

noun

verb

Word Origin for foray

foray