What does "fore" mean?
The front; the forward part of something; the foreground.
Fore
/fɔː/ adj, adv, intj, name, noun
adj, adv, intj, name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The front; the forward part of something; the foreground.
- Grammar: fore is listed as adj, adv, intj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: forward, ahead, ahead, ancient.
- Useful contrasts: aft, latter, abaft.
- Usage evidence: The problem has come to the fore again.
How to use "fore"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "fore" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "fore" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "fore" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "fore" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "fore" is acting as adj, adv, intj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "forward" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "fore", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The front; the forward part of something; the foreground. uncountable
"The waiting-room was now less empty than Watt had at first supposed, to judge by the presence, some two paces to Watt's fore, and as many to his right, of what seemed to be an object of some importance."
- 2 A people of Papua New Guinea. plural, plural-only
- 3 front part of a vessel or aircraft wordnet
- 4 The front; the forward part of something; the foreground.; The front part of a vessel. uncountable
"in the fore of the ship"
Adjective
- 1 Former; occurring earlier (in some order); previous. no-comparative, obsolete
"the fore part of the day"
- 2 Forward; situated towards the front (of something). no-comparative
"The fore end of the tape is drawn out, and when the indicator points to this number the end is firmly fixed to the front of the camera."
Adjective
- 1 situated at or toward the bow of a vessel wordnet
Adverb
- 1 In the part that precedes or goes first; opposed to aft, after, back, behind, etc. not-comparable
- 2 Formerly; previously; afore. not-comparable, obsolete
"The eyes, fore duteous, now converted are."
- 3 In or towards the bows of a ship. not-comparable
"fore and aft"
Adverb
- 1 near or toward the bow of a ship or cockpit of a plane wordnet
Intj
- 1 An exclamation yelled to inform players a ball is moving in their direction.
Proper Noun
- 1 Their language.
- 2 A surname.
Example
"The problem has come to the fore again."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "fore"?
Common synonyms include: forward, ahead, ahead, ancient, ante, antecedent.
How do you use "fore" in a sentence?
The problem has come to the fore again.
How do you pronounce "fore"?
Pronounced /fɔː/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
A development of the prefix fore-.
Etymology 2
From the German surname, Americanized from Fahr, from the noun Fähre (“ferry”).