View synonyms for fore

fore

[ fawr ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

situated at or toward the front, as compared with something else.
previous; earlier:
cities that existed in a fore time.
Nautical.
1. of or relating to a foremast.
2. noting a sail, yard, boom, etc., or any rigging belonging to a fore lower mast or to some upper mast of a foremast.
3. 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.
4. 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

Also 'fore. Informal. before.

fore

[ fawr, fohr ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

interjection

, Golf.

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

fore-

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

fore

/ fɔː /

interjection

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

fore

/ 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
1. to or into the front or conspicuous position
2. alive or active
  is your grandfather still to the fore?

adverb

at or towards a ship's bow
obsolete.
before

preposition

a less common word for before

fore-

prefix

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of fore¹

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

Origin of fore²

First recorded in 1875–80; probably shortening of before

Origin of fore³

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of fore¹

C19: probably short for before

Origin of fore²

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

Origin of fore³

Old English, from fore (adv)

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

fore and aft, Nautical. in, at, or to both ends of a ship.
to the fore,
1. into a conspicuous place or position; to or at the front.
2. at hand; ready; available.
3. still alive.

More idioms and phrases containing fore

to the fore

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

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