definitions

foray

[ fawr-ey, for-ey ]
/ ˈfɔr eɪ, ˈfɒr eɪ /
||
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.

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RELATED WORDS

inroad, raid, invasion, descent, irruption, sortie, attack, depredation, reconnaissance, sally

Nearby words

foraminate, foraminifer, foraminiferan, forasmuch as, forasmuchas, foray, forb, forbad, forbade, forbear, forbearance

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

Related forms

for·ay·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for foray

British Dictionary definitions for foray

foray

/ (ˈfɒreɪ) /

noun

a short raid or incursion
a first attempt or new undertaking

verb

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

Derived Forms

forayer, 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