foregoing

American

[fawr-goh-ing, fohr-] / fɔrˈgoʊ ɪŋ, foʊr- /

adjective

previously stated, written, or occurring; preceding.

The foregoing paragraph presents the problem.

Synonyms:

former, prior, previous, precedent

foregoing British

/ fɔːˈɡəʊɪŋ /

adjective

(prenominal) (esp of writing or speech) going before; preceding

"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

Etymology

Origin of foregoing

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at forego ¹, -ing ²

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.

See Examples For:

foregoing

It’s how budget carriers like Consumer Cellular can pass cost savings on to their customers by foregoing large-scale infrastructure buildouts.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 25, 2026

The bigger issue is that investors who stuck with staples, foregoing bigger gains in hopes they would provide a smoother ride, have been sorely mistaken.

From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026

When I think of foregoing a baby for a comedy career, I think: What career?

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026

He agreed with Secretary Vance that to oppose it “would be foregoing an option that we could exercise in the event a peaceful solution is not in the offing.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2025

I’m working up with the foregoing to a physical description of myself.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023