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

Go forage for food, which wasn’t always easy because the next supermarket was like, a 40-minute drive away, then work ’til midnight, then make a fire and roast things on the fire, and then go to bed at three. — Katie Bain, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026

These farmers plowed over prairie dog habitat and viewed the rodents as competition with cattle for forage. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Verb

As for us, we are engaged in the usual rituals of brewing cups of stimulation — our choice today is orange creme — and foraging for items of interest. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026

What Skunk Burrows Look Like For a larger animal, holes that skunks dig while foraging are relatively small. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 24 Sep. 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