fore

[ fawr, fohr ]

/ fɔr, foʊr /

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See synonyms for: fore / forer / forest / fores on Thesaurus.com

adjective

situated at or toward the front, as compared with something else.

previous; earlier: cities that existed in a fore time.

Nautical.

of or relating to a foremast.
noting a sail, yard, boom, etc., or any rigging belonging to a fore lower mast or to some upper mast of a foremast.
noting any stay running aft and upward to the head of a fore lower mast or to some specified upper mast of a foremast: fore topmast stay.
situated at or toward the bow of a vessel; forward.

adverb

Nautical. at or toward the bow.

forward (def. 4).

Obsolete. before.

noun

the forepart of anything; front.

the fore, Nautical. the foremast.

preposition, conjunction

Also 'fore .Informal. before.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about fore

fore and aft, Nautical. in, at, or to both ends of a ship.

to the fore,

into a conspicuous place or position; to or at the front.
at hand; ready; available.
still alive.

Origin of fore

By construal of fore- as an adjective, hence nominalized; fore and aft perhaps as translation of Dutch or Low German; sense “before” (defs. 6, 9) perhaps continuation of Middle English, Old English fore in this sense, or as shortening of afore

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH fore

for, fore , four

Words nearby fore

Ford, Gerald, Ford, Henry, fordless, fordo, fordone, fore, fore-and-aft, fore-and-after, fore-and-aft rig, fore-and-aft sail, forearm

Other definitions for fore (2 of 3)

fore²

[ fawr, fohr ]

/ fɔr, foʊr /

interjection Golf.

(used as a cry of warning to persons on a course who are in danger of being struck by the ball.)

Origin of fore

First recorded in 1875–80; probably shortening of before

Other definitions for fore (3 of 3)

fore-

a prefix meaning “before” (in space, time, condition, etc.), “front,” “superior,” etc.: forehead; forecastle; forecast; foretell; foreman.

Origin of fore-

Combining form representing Middle English, Old English for(e)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fore in a sentence

Thirdly, even if the personal has been brought to the fore on “Spare Ribs,” Williamson has his reasons.
Sleaford Mods gets introspective, but don’t think they’ve gone soft|Zachary Lipez|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
It opens up flat and the dog lays down on it with both hind and fore legs folded underneath itself—this is the way military dogs are trained to lie down so that they can jump up faster.
This new harness lets military dogs parachute safely and with style|Christina Mackenzie|January 4, 2021|Popular-Science
This is a time in our society when the role of fundamental science and inquiry has really come to the fore in our response to covid-19.
Helping scientists succeed|Katie McLean|December 18, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Now, at the fore of a constantly changing business landscape where disruption is routine, they’re primed to succeed.
Digital acceleration in the time of coronavirus: North America|Martha Leibs|December 15, 2020|MIT Technology Review

This period is bringing to the fore things that, once you see them and understand them, they cannot be ignored.
The Battle for Inclusivity at Brooklyn Boulders|Molly Taft|December 15, 2020|Outside Online
Since then, the rising gap between the rich and middle- and lower-income families has risen to the fore.
Christie Blames Parents for Bad Economy|Monica Potts|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In talking to experts in the field, only a few women immediately came to the fore.
Science-Fiction TV Finds a New Muse: Feminism|David Levesley|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Usually, though, old-fashioned Liberalism is very much at the fore in Puck.
The Magazine That Made—and Unmade—Politicians|Anthony Haden-Guest|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The fore and aft have beautiful decks carved into them, and windows from various rooms too: it looks like a floating Apple device.
The World's Most Beautiful Boat—Yours for Half a Billion Dollars|Tim Teeman|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But this is the sort of mentality that comes to the fore in a bubble.
Tesla Looks Like a Bubble, Will It Pop?|Daniel Gross|March 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His drill-like nose, his powerful fore-legs and big, strong feet all served to make him the fastest digger in Pleasant Valley.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
If we hustle right smart we can get a pen done 'fore dark, let alone gettin' them cattle into a shed.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
With what honest pride did John Smith, the best farmer of them all, step to the fore and assign to each man his place!
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
With his head between his fore-paws and one eye closed, he watches the tiny tongue of flame licking up the last coal.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
The pustule on the fore finger shews the disease in an earlier stage.
An Inquiry into the Causes and Effects of the Variolae Vaccinae|Edward Jenner

British Dictionary definitions for fore (1 of 3)

fore¹

/ (fɔː) /

adjective

(usually in combination) located at, in, or towards the frontthe forelegs of a horse

noun

the front part

something located at, in, or towards the front

short for foremast

fore and aft located at or directed towards both ends of a vessela fore-and-aft rig

to the fore

to or into the front or conspicuous position
Scot and Irish alive or activeis your grandfather still to the fore?

adverb

at or towards a ship's bow

obsolete before

preposition, conjunction

a less common word for before

Word Origin for fore

Old English; related to Old Saxon, Old High German fora, Gothic faura, Greek para, Sanskrit pura

British Dictionary definitions for fore (2 of 3)

fore²

/ (fɔː) /

interjection

(in golf) a warning shout made by a player about to make a shot

Word Origin for fore

C19: probably short for before

British Dictionary definitions for fore (3 of 3)

fore-

prefix

before in time or rankforesight; forefather; foreman

at or near the front; before in placeforehead; forecourt

Word Origin for fore-

Old English, from fore (adv)

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with fore

fore

In addition to the idioms beginning with fore

fore and aft

also see:

to the fore

fore

Idioms about fore

Origin of fore

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH fore

Words nearby fore

Other definitions for fore (2 of 3)

Origin of fore

Other definitions for fore (3 of 3)

Origin of fore-

Words related to fore

How to use fore in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fore (1 of 3)

Word Origin for fore

British Dictionary definitions for fore (2 of 3)

Word Origin for fore

British Dictionary definitions for fore (3 of 3)

Word Origin for fore-

Other Idioms and Phrases with fore