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foregoing

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verb

present participle of forego
as in preceding
to go or come before in time if the sparse crowds are any indication of the public's interest in the presidential candidate, then his reputation obviously foregoes him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word foregoing distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of foregoing are antecedent, anterior, former, preceding, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

When would antecedent be a good substitute for foregoing?

While in some cases nearly identical to foregoing, antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

When is anterior a more appropriate choice than foregoing?

The synonyms anterior and foregoing are sometimes interchangeable, but anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

When might former be a better fit than foregoing?

The words former and foregoing can be used in similar contexts, but former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

When is it sensible to use preceding instead of foregoing?

The meanings of preceding and foregoing largely overlap; however, preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

How are the words previous and prior related as synonyms of foregoing?

Both previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage
a prior obligation

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of foregoing
Adjective
That is consistent with a shift observed in March last year among seniors, which authorities theorized could be driven by less severe disease in hospitals or more foregoing hospital care. Alexander Tin, CBS News, 4 May 2023 The image below shows what is perhaps the key element that helped tie all the foregoing aspects together. Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 5 July 2022 As seen, in all of the foregoing 20-year periods surveyed, the stock index possessed average annual returns exceeding that of the rate of inflation. Dan Cupkovic, Forbes, 16 June 2022 The daily average is also now a significant undercount, with most people testing positive on rapid tests that go unreported or foregoing testing altogether. Julie Mazziotta, PEOPLE.com, 31 May 2022 That should help doctors and patients feel more comfortable foregoing radiation after thyroid surgery, Leboulleux said. Angus Chen, STAT, 10 Mar. 2022 City dwellers are increasingly foregoing car ownership. Anna Funk, Discover Magazine, 9 Aug. 2019
Verb
Among Gen Z, some are foregoing college, and its skyrocketing costs, in favor of blue-collar jobs. Sarah Jackson, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025 Like the Chinese government and most of its people, the movie evades mentions of the mass casualties after the pandemic restrictions were removed, therefore foregoing an opportunity to reflect on whether the deaths were preventable and what lessons might be learned. Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025 If your drug costs increase, talk to your doctor before foregoing a drug, Socal said. Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 3 Oct. 2025 The singer has been vocal about foregoing tour stops in the US, citing fears that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would raid the concert venues. Sandra Gonzalez, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025 You are obligated to take all necessary steps to preserve any and all documents and communications relating to the foregoing categories of information. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025 In 1998, the Denver Broncos offered John Elway the opportunity to buy 10% of the team for $15 million and another 10% by foregoing $21 million in deferred salary. Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 This outfit is ideal for weekends in the city and European vacations alike (although an international trip may warrant foregoing the baseball cap in lieu of something more polished). Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025 Reports indicate the King rarely stopped to eat lunch, foregoing the meal to keep working or taking a stroll around the gardens. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foregoing
Adjective
  • Representatives for Bardot did not respond to PEOPLE's previous request for a comment on the actress's condition.
    Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Scholtes rejected a second-degree murder plea deal in March 2025 that would have resulted in a sentence of 10 to 25 years, according to previous reporting by The Arizona Republic.
    Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Others recalled seeing them in one of their vehicles with the dogs, but that was years ago too, as was their last appearance at Jinja, a restaurant Gene once partly owned with the aforementioned Doug; Gene’s paintings still brighten the walls.
    Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The 24-year-old shooting guard launched his first collaboration with Adidas in 2023, releasing the aforementioned AE1 shoes that September.
    Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Similarly, Hulu’s cancellation rate for the month was 10%, twice the 5% for the preceding two months.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
  • At the Academy Museum cocktail party preceding it, the awards circuit still had its new-car smell; everyone seemed a little more excited to slip into their tuxedos and gravity-defying gowns (or, in the case of Kim Kardashian, a head-encompassing beige silk scarf).
    Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foregoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foregoing. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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