Foray usually means a quick raidA sudden attack or quick attack, especially by soldiers. or a brief attempt to do something outside your usual field. The word can be used in military contexts or more figurativelyIn a nonliteral way, using words to suggest an idea. for a first ventureA risky or new undertaking, especially the first time. into a new area.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-08. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈfɔˌreɪ/
Easy pronunciation: FOR-ay (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Noun meaning a first short attempt or venture into a new area.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-08. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Foray Meaning
a short first try in something new
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a brief attempt or venture into a new area, often outside your usual field
Example: Her first foray into writing was a short blog series.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-08. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Foray
Meaning 2
a quick attack
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a sudden short attack or raid
Example: The village was hit by a foray at dawn.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- raid — Works as a direct synonym in the military sense.
- maraud — Can overlap with raiding, but it more often means to roam around and plunder.
Meaning 3
to loot or plunder
Part of speech: verb
Definition: steal goods; take as spoils
Example: The soldiers forayed through the camp and took supplies.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- despoil — A real synonym in the sense of plundering.
- loot — A direct fit when the meaning is taking goods by force.
- pillage — Strong synonym for violent taking of goods.
- plunder — Directly matches the sense of taking valuables by force.
- ransack — Works when the meaning is to search and steal from a place.
- reave — An older word meaning to rob or plunder.
- rifle — Can mean to steal from a place or person, though it is less common.
- strip — Can mean to deprive of possessions, but is broader and less specific.
Meaning 4
to make a short raid into enemy land
Part of speech: verb
Definition: briefly enter enemy territory
Example: The troops forayed across the border before retreating.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-08. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Foray Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- raid
- maraud
steal goods; take as spoils
- despoil
- loot
- pillage
- plunder
- ransack
- reave
- rifle
- strip
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-08. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use foray only for fighting, but it can also mean a first venture into a new activity.
- Do not confuse foray with ferry or foyer.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-08. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does foray mean?
Foray can mean a quick raid or a short attempt in a new area. In modern English, the figurative sense is very common.
What are the synonyms of foray?
For the main figurative meaning, good synonyms include venture, attempt, and debut in some contexts, but these were not supplied in the source data. In the military sense, raid is the clearest synonym.
Is foray a noun or a verb?
It can be both. As a noun, it often means a first attempt or a raid. As a verb, it can mean to raid or plunder.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-08. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.