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.
Nautical. at or toward the bow.
Obsolete. before.
the front part
something located at, in, or towards the front
short for foremast
located at or directed towards both ends of a vessel
a fore-and-aft rig
to or into the front or conspicuous position
alive or active
is your grandfather still to the fore?
at or towards a ship's bow
obsolete before
before in time or rank
foresight
forefather
foreman
at or near the front; before in place
forehead
forecourt
What does fore- mean? Fore- is a prefix meaning “before,” "front," or "superior." It is occasionally used in everyday and technical terms. In some terms, such as fore-check, the prefix is separated from the second element with a hyphen. Fore- comes from Old English for(e), meaning “before” or “front.” The Latin cognate and translation is prae “before,” which is the source of pre-, as in prefix and preposition. Learn more at our entry for each word.
By construal of fore- as an adjective, hence nominalized; fore and aft perhaps as translation of Dutch or Low German; sense “before” fore 1 ( defs. 6, 9 ) perhaps continuation of Middle English, Old English fore in this sense, or as shortening of afore
First recorded in 1875–80; probably shortening of before
Combining form representing Middle English, Old English for ( e )
The front of a ship is called the fore, and the back is the "aft." A cruise ship might be so large that your cabin at the ship's fore is almost a quarter mile from your sister's in the aft. Fore also refers more generally to something at or near the front, like someone who's at the fore of her profession as a pastry chef. As an adjective, fore also describes things close to the front — your puppy's fore legs are the ones in front. When golfers shout, "Fore!" it's a warning to watch out for the ball, or to "look ahead."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The episode has thrust a long-simmering debate to the fore: open versus closed AI.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
"You do push it to the back of your mind, and this has just brought it all to the fore to be quite honest."
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026
Those outages on the FirstNet network, coupled with yearslong spats over who is in charge of the $25 billion public-private partnership, are coming to the fore as a congressional reauthorization vote approaches.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026
Bell's role as a senior player has come to the fore since Christmas, despite England's lack of competitive matches since their 50-over World Cup campaign ended in the semi-finals in October in India.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026
“Old T.R. knows you better be gittin’ on if’n you go’n be home fore dark,” said Grandpa.
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
Shaw-Asquith flicked wet blond locks off his fore- head.
From The Verge ● Jun. 17, 2018
Deliberately paced, beautifully shot, high-toned, twisty mysteries feature international locations, distressed parents, three-dimensional characters in the fore-, middle- and background, memorable acting everywhere.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 19, 2014
Opposite the helm is a spacious sunpad, but I was surprised that it couldn't be tilted up to provide either a fore- or aft-facing backrest.
From Time Magazine Archive
A garish red abrasion colored his fore- head.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
And in all those forefathers and fore- mothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins, there was nobody like me.
From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman
He fores down two bouncers at Asif, much to Michael Holding's satisfaction.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 9, 2010
I suppose the derivation to be in Quatuor fores, or some French derivative from those words.
From Notes and Queries, Vol. III, Number 86, June 21, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Geneologists, etc. by Various
“Captain Trevor, the one’s used to come to Hollymead fores the war.”
From No Quarter! by Reid, Mayne
And when they sleep their eyes wake: and when they go forth or about, they hele and hide their fores and steps, for hunters should not find them….
From Mediaeval Lore from Bartholomew Anglicus by Steele, Robert
Hope it won’t signify no great deal; but I thought it better you be told o’t fores it reach the young lady at Gloster—so’s yer honour might break it to her a bit easier.”
From No Quarter! by Reid, Mayne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
