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 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

forager noun

Synonyms

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

Supplemental feeding is defined as providing extra nutrition during times of natural forage scarcity. —Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 27 Oct. 2025

Matt Williams, a Michigan deer hunter and mushroom-food plot evangelist, noticed this back in 2023 while working on a paper about mushrooms as deer forage. —Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025

Verb

In 2013 researchers reported that bees can sense electrical fields around flowers and use that information to guide their foraging decisions. —Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025

Our new evidence aligns with skeletal adaptations that suggest powerful digging abilities, consistent with foraging foods both above and below ground. —Aditya Reddy Kurre, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025

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