foray

[fawr-ey, for-ey]

noun

1. a quick raid, usually for the purpose of taking plunder.

   Vikings made a foray on the port.

   Synonyms: sortie, incursion, invasion, assault, attack

2. a quick, sudden attack.

   The defenders made a foray outside the walls.

3. an initial venture.

   a successful foray into politics.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a raid; pillage; maraud.

2. to invade or make one's way, as for profit or adventure.

   foreign industries foraying into U.S. markets.

verb (used with object)

1. to ravage in search of plunder; pillage.

foray

/ ˈfɒreɪ /

noun

1. a short raid or incursion

2. a first attempt or new undertaking

verb

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

Other Word Forms

• forayer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of foray¹

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” ( forage ) + -ier -ier ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of foray¹

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

Example Sentences

Drag Race was Elle's first foray into performing outside of Northern Ireland.

Read more on BBC

Additionally, the company’s foray into the full-EV space hasn’t gone as well as it had hoped.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He also had a brief foray into politics.

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A flying Rees-Zammit, back in red after his failed foray into the NFL, produced a stunning finish for a late consolation try before Clarke grabbed his second to take New Zealand past 50 points.

Read more on Barron's

Gobo’s foray into our world will become part of the show’s canon.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• inroad 
• invasion 
• raid