forage

1 of 2

noun

for·​age ˈfȯr-ij 

ˈfär-

1

: food for animals especially when taken by browsing or grazing

The grass serves as forage for livestock.

2

[forage entry 2] : the act of foraging : search for provisions

They made forages to find food.

forage

2 of 2

verb

foraged; foraging

transitive verb

1

: to strip of provisions : collect forage from

2

: to secure by foraging

foraged mushrooms for dinner

intransitive verb

1

: to wander in search of forage or food

2

: to secure forage (as for horses) by stripping the country

3

: ravage, raid

4

: to make a search : rummage

forager noun

Synonyms of forage

Verb

• graze
• pasture

Examples of forage in a Sentence

Noun

The grass serves as forage for livestock.

Verb

The cows were foraging in the pasture.

He had to forage for firewood.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Saudi Arabia has banned the domestic farming of alfalfa and other forage crops because the country’s groundwater has been depleted. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026

Our analysis found that to be about a 93% discount, on average, compared with the market rate for forage on private land. —Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 12 Jan. 2026

Verb

Seasonal ingredients powering the mercifully compact tasting menu are sourced from local farmers or foraged from the volcano’s fertile slopes (grapes, saffron, mushrooms). —Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026

Last month, the California Poison Control System said that some of the people who had been poisoned by death caps spoke Spanish and might have relied on foraging practices developed outside the United States. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from fuerre, foer fodder, straw, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German fuotar food, fodder — more at food

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for forage

• borage
• porridge
• storage

Kids Definition

forage

1 of 2 noun

for·​age ˈfȯr-ij 

ˈfär-

1

: food (as pasture) for browsing or grazing animals

2

: a search for food or supplies

forage

2 of 2 verb

foraged; foraging

1

: browse entry 1 sense 1, graze

2

: to make a search especially for food or supplies

forage for grain

forage for firewood

3

: to get by foraging

forager noun