foreplay

noun

fore·​play ˈfȯr-ˌplā How to pronounce foreplay (audio)
1
: erotic stimulation preceding sexual intercourse
2
: action or behavior that precedes an event

Examples of foreplay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ought this scene to be read as foreplay or foreboding? — Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026 The act of choosing together is foreplay. — Alysia Reiner, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2026 This was hardly the only Coward comedy of its era to be used for foreplay. — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026 What instantly kills mood during foreplay? — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for foreplay

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of foreplay was in 1929

Rhymes for foreplay

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Browse Nearby Words

fore plane
foreplay
foreplot
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Cite this Entry

“Foreplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foreplay. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

foreplay

noun
fore·​play -ˌplā How to pronounce foreplay (audio)
: erotic stimulation preceding sexual intercourse

More from Merriam-Webster on foreplay

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about foreplay

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