fore

¹

[fawr]

adjective

1. situated at or toward the front, as compared with something else.

2. previous; earlier.

   cities that existed in a fore time.

3. Nautical.

   1. of or relating to a foremast.

   2. noting a sail, yard, boom, etc., or any rigging belonging to a fore lower mast or to some upper mast of a foremast.

   3. noting any stay running aft and upward to the head of a fore lower mast or to some specified upper mast of a foremast.

      fore topmast stay.

   4. situated at or toward the bow of a vessel; forward.

adverb

1. Nautical.,  at or toward the bow.

2. forward.

3. Obsolete.,  before.

noun

1. the forepart of anything; front.

2. Nautical.,  the fore, the foremast.

preposition

1. Informal.,  Also 'fore before.

fore

²

[fawr, fohr]

interjection

Golf.

1. (used as a cry of warning to persons on a course who are in danger of being struck by the ball.)

fore-

³

1. a prefix meaning “before” (in space, time, condition, etc.), “front,” “superior,” etc..

   forehead; forecastle; forecast; foretell; foreman.

fore

¹

/ fɔː /

adjective

1. (usually in combination) located at, in, or towards the front

   the forelegs of a horse

noun

1. the front part

2. something located at, in, or towards the front

3. short for foremast

4. located at or directed towards both ends of a vessel

   a fore-and-aft rig

5. 1. to or into the front or conspicuous position

   2. alive or active

      is your grandfather still to the fore?

adverb

1. at or towards a ship's bow

2. obsolete,  before

preposition

1. a less common word for before

fore-

²

prefix

1. before in time or rank

   foresight

   forefather

   foreman

2. at or near the front; before in place

   forehead

   forecourt

fore

³

/ fɔː /

interjection

1. (in golf) a warning shout made by a player about to make a shot

Word History and Origins

Origin of fore¹

By construal of fore- as an adjective, hence nominalized; fore and aft perhaps as translation of Dutch or Low German; sense “before” fore ¹ ( defs. 6, 9 ) perhaps continuation of Middle English, Old English fore in this sense, or as shortening of afore

Origin of fore²

First recorded in 1875–80; probably shortening of before

Origin of fore³

Combining form representing Middle English, Old English for ( e )

Word History and Origins

Origin of fore¹

Old English; related to Old Saxon, Old High German fora , Gothic faura , Greek para , Sanskrit pura

Origin of fore²

Old English, from fore (adv)

Origin of fore³

C19: probably short for _before

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. fore and aft, in, at, or to both ends of a ship.

2. to the fore,

   1. into a conspicuous place or position; to or at the front.

   2. at hand; ready; available.

   3. still alive.

More idioms and phrases containing fore

• to the fore

Example Sentences

“You constantly think about the outcome once you call it or once it’s called for you. I could end up on the chopping block, who knows. That was brought to the fore during ‘SNL 50.’

From Los Angeles Times

He adds that some of the anger in Delhi might "be Cold War-era baggage coming to the fore", but "this time around it's intensified by real-time developments as well".

From BBC

American names came to the fore as the Europeans largely failed to shine in the last global event before September's Ryder Cup.

From BBC

It sets him up perfectly for the pursuit of a third title in a row at Wimbledon, where his dominance of the court will once again come to the fore.

From BBC

West Indies' lack of batting depth came to the fore once again and their hopes in the longer format appear bleak unless Matthews continues to work miracles.

From BBC

When To Use

What does fore- mean?

Fore- is a prefix meaning “before,” "front," or "superior." It is occasionally used in everyday and technical terms. In some terms, such as fore-check, the prefix is separated from the second element with a hyphen.Fore- comes from Old English for(e), meaning “before” or “front.” The Latin cognate and translation is prae “before,” which is the source of pre-, as in prefix and preposition. Learn more at our entry for each word.