foray

American  

[fawr-ey, for-ey] / ˈfɔr eɪ, ˈfɒr eɪ /

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.

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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 British  

/ ˈfɒreɪ /

noun

1. a short raid or incursion

2. a first attempt or new undertaking

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• forayer noun

Etymology

Origin of foray

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

Example Sentences

The landscape has been transformed since the failure of Google Glass, the search company’s early foray into smart glasses that was axed in 2015.

From Barron's

My first foray into the world of spiced yogurts took place inside the local biryani joint just a few miles north of my Maryland hometown.

From Salon

Despite gold’s recent foray into bear market territory, the macro case for buying the commodity remains solid, according to a strategist for a $1.5 billion Houston investment firm.

From MarketWatch

Tesla shares have been less volatile than usual as investors wait to see the early results of Elon Musk’s forays into robotaxis and chip making.

From The Wall Street Journal

One evening I got back to the barracks late from a wood-–gathering foray outside the walls.

From Literature

Related Words

• inroad
• invasion
• raid