forage

noun

for·age | \ ˈfȯr-ij ,

ˈfär- \

Definition of forage

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : food for animals especially when taken by browsing or grazing The grass serves as forage for livestock.

2 [ ²forage ] : the act of foraging : search for provisions They made forages to find food.

forage

verb

foraged; foraging

Definition of forage (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to strip of provisions : collect forage from

2 : to secure by foraging foraged a chicken for the feast

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

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Synonyms for forage

Synonyms: Verb

browse, graze, pasture, rustle

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

So the warmer water allows them to forage longer, Gaube said in a statement from the university. — Martin Finucane, BostonGlobe.com, "Great white sharks like to hang out in ocean eddies, new study says," 22 June 2018 Chef Theikuhl forages on the property for esoteric greens and wild berries to compliment products from nearby farms. — Elizabeth Dunn, WSJ, "A Stress-Free Summer Weekend in the Catskills," 15 June 2018 In a day, one horse eats about 32 pounds of forage and drinks about 10 gallons of water. — Alex Devoid, azcentral, "Volunteers care for Navajo wild horses during drought, despite overpopulation concerns," 13 July 2018 That abundance of forage also helps keep does in good body condition and able to nurse fawns. — Shannon Tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "Texas’ deer population would welcome good soaking," 16 June 2018 Some Tui chubs are being seen in the shallows at times, which is the main source of forage for these trout and just in time for the post spawn bite when the fish put on the feed bag. — sacbee, "Fishing line: Sacramento River sees plenty of stripers and shad | The Sacramento Bee," 30 Apr. 2018 Learn about the Noongar’s six seasons; the harmony between land, sea, and life; and how the indigenous people forage for food. — Christina Liao, Vogue, "Why You Should Be Going to Australia for Fresh Black Truffles," 12 July 2018 And on long summer days, when the hives are busy with bees flying in and out to forage, Mack is cautious. — New York Times, "With a Sniff and a Signal, These Dogs Hunt Down Threats to Bees," 3 July 2018 The male tends to protect the home, fend off dangers, forage for food, while the female is oriented toward the rearing of the young. — Andrew Sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "Anthony Kennedy and the Death of True American Conservatism," 29 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Three times a day, workers place vegetables all across the enclosures for the bears to forage and find, an important part of their mental stimulation. — Simon Denyer, Washington Post, "China’s bear bile industry persists despite growing awareness of the cruelty involved," 3 June 2018 Fathers also teach their kits how to forage, play with them and even groom them. — Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "For the Fourth, bring out the (San Diego Zoo) babies!," 3 July 2018 Take home a foraged vinegar and dine on a local, wild, foraged lunch. — Grace Wong, chicagotribune.com, "5 things to eat, drink, do this weekend," 11 May 2018 The couple has taken part in several Wild Foodie gatherings and now occasionally venture out to forage on their own. — Grace Dickinson, Philly.com, "Finding edible ingredients growing right in the backyard," 8 May 2018 The honeybee’s foraging routine is deceptively complex. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, "‘Safe’ Levels of Pesticide Still Hamper Bees’ Memory and Ability to Learn," 12 July 2018 As the elephants foraged near and on the tracks at dusk, a passenger train traveling at 50 mph tried to brake but barreled into the herd. — National Geographic, "Can Bees Help Save Elephants From Train Strikes?," 20 June 2018 Introducing our first-ever Burger Bracket Outsiders frequently characterize Angelenos as red meat-and-carb-averse health freaks who spend weekends grazing on weeds and foraging for berries in Griffith Park. — Los Angeles Magazine, "What’s the Best Burger Joint in L.A.? You Decide," 16 Apr. 2018 Russia has a problem with strays, and Rostov-on-Don, like a majority of Russian cities, conducts an annual culling of the packs that roam neighborhoods foraging for food and protecting their territory. — Sabra Ayres, latimes.com, "To prepare for soccer's World Cup, Russia is killing stray dogs. Animal-rights activists are fighting back," 6 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'forage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for forage

Noun

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

Verb

see forage entry 1

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