fore

[ fawr, fohr ]

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.

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

Other definitions for fore (2 of 3)

fore²

[ fawr, fohr ]

interjectionGolf.

(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

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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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 front: the 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 vessel: a fore-and-aft rig
to the fore
- to or into the front or conspicuous position
- Scot and Irish alive or active: is your grandfather still to the fore?

adverb

at or towards a ship's bow
obsolete before

preposition, conjunction

a less common word for before

Origin of 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

Origin of fore

C19: probably short for before

British Dictionary definitions for fore- (3 of 3)

fore-

prefix

before in time or rank: foresight; forefather; foreman
at or near the front; before in place: forehead; forecourt

Origin of 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

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