foray

noun

for·ay | \ ˈfȯr-ˌā

, ˈfär- also fȯ-ˈrā or fə-ˈrā\

plural forays

Definition of foray

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a sudden or irregular invasion or attack for war or spoils : raid a foray into enemy territory attempted sneak and surprise forays— D. D. Eisenhower

2 : an initial and often tentative attempt to do something in a new or different field or area of activity the novelist's foray into nonfiction Torres spearheaded his family's first foray into international wine production by purchasing land in Chile's Curicó Valley in 1979.— Michael Schachner

foray

verb

forayed; foraying; forays

Definition of foray (Entry 2 of 2)

1 intransitive : to make a raid or brief invasion forayed into enemy territory Nicaraguan troops were foraying along the frontier …— George Russell

2 intransitive : to do or attempt something outside one's accustomed sphere : to enter into a new or different field or area of activity Tesla, known for its high-end electric cars, has forayed into the trucking industry with a Nov. 16 reveal of its latest prototype, the Tesla Semi.— Meagan Nichols

3 transitive archaic : to ravage in search of spoils : pillage

Other Words from foray Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about foray

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Did You Know?

Verb

Foray comes from Middle English forrayen and probably traces back to an Anglo-French word that meant "raider" or "forager." It's related to the word forage, which usually means "to wander in search of food or forage." A foray, in its earliest sense, was a raid for plunder. Relatively recently, foray began to take on a broader meaning. In a sense, a foray is still a trip into a foreign territory. These days, though, looting and plundering needn't be involved in a foray. When you take a foray, you dabble in an area, occupation, or pastime that's new to you.

Examples of foray in a Sentence

Noun

a foray into enemy territory We made a quick foray into town for some supplies.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

People in the design industry are fans of Sherwin-Williams' foray into more statement-making picks, too. — Taylor Mead, House Beautiful, "Sherwin-Williams's Color Of The Year Is Cavern Clay," 12 Sep. 2018 At the time, The Telegraph offered a few explanations for Will's foray into facial hair, writing: It is believed that the Prince's beard was an attempt to disguise his identity during the SBS mission. — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "Prince William Grew Out a Beard in 2008 and These Throwback Pictures Documented It," 16 Dec. 2018 Any exploration activities, or lava tube forays, will be considered a bonus. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "A Japanese company has announced a long-term plan to develop the Moon," 26 Sep. 2018 But Nerf's new Laser Ops Pro blasters, the brand's first real foray into laser tag (available online as of Monday), see Nerf shooting from a different angle. — Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, "Nerf's Laser Tag Guns Are Cool, But They Lose What Makes Nerf Great," 17 July 2018 The DoorDash pilot marks GM’s first foray into testing the delivery of goods. — Mike Colias, WSJ, "GM, DoorDash to Test Autonomous Food Deliveries," 4 Jan. 2019 This isn't even Katy's first foray into the crypto craze. — Molly Horan, Teen Vogue, "Katy Perry Shares Cryptocurrency Nail Art," 26 Jan. 2018 Harvard’s foray harks back to 2012, when Mr. Turrentine and James Ontiveros, a local vineyard manager, founded an agricultural investment advisory firm named Grapevine Capital Partners LLC and pitched the idea to Harvard. — Russell Gold, WSJ, "Harvard Quietly Amasses California Vineyards—and the Water Underneath," 10 Dec. 2018 Even seemingly subtle shifts can make a major difference, like Serena Williams’s foray into the world of blonde balayage or Emma Stone’s mastery of a wide spectrum of reds. — Macaela Mackenzie, Allure, "15 Celebrities Who Prove a Dye Job Makes a Huge Difference," 18 Oct. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

And now, the mom of five is foraying into children's literature! — Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living, "Joanna Gaines Is Releasing Her First Children's Book—And Her Kids Helped Her Write It!," 14 Jan. 2019 To camp solo is to foray into wilderness that’s made wilder by the fact that one is alone in it. — Cheryl Strayed, Vogue, "Is Glamping Camping? Wild’s Cheryl Strayed Tackles the Question—in Style," 17 July 2018 The American Cancer Society partnership isn’t Lyft’s only foray into medical transportation. — Sy Mukherjee, Fortune, "Lyft Is Offering Free Rides to Cancer Patients in Major U.S. Cities," 21 June 2018 There are plenty of his signature otaku flowers, but also forays into art history, including homages to the British master of angst Francis Bacon and the Edo-period Japanese painter Soga Shohaku. — The New Yorker, "Takashi Murakami, Japan’s Answer to Andy Warhol," 18 May 2018 Romiguier is also on the hunt for similar genetic adaptations that have helped some ants foray into the ruthless world of slavemaking. — Erica Tennenhouse, Science | AAAS, "How blood-red ants became slave snatchers," 11 Apr. 2018 Casper forayed into the pillow and sheets scene in 2016 to pretty great reviews. — Danielle Fox, ELLE Decor, "Trend Alert: The Most High-Tech Comforters And Sheets To Keep You Cool, Chic, And Comfy," 16 Feb. 2018 The actress Olivia Wilde, spokeswoman and model for H&M’s forays into sustainable fashion, was there wearing a new dress from the line. — Alden Wicker, Newsweek, "Fast Fashion Is Creating an Environmental Crisis," 1 Sep. 2016 Schmidt also occasionally forayed into writing for Hollywood, composing scores for a film called A Texas Romance and the 1972 film Bad Company. — Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, "Harvey Schmidt, Composer of Longest-Running Musical in History, Dies at 88," 1 Mar. 2018

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