fore

Meanings

1. 1interjection

   A shout used, especially in golf, to warn people that a ball is coming toward them.

   Grammar: Used alone as a warning shout, not as part of a sentence.

   The golfer sliced his shot and yelled 'Fore!' to warn the group ahead.

   If you hear 'Fore!', cover your head and turn away from the direction of the ball.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nountechnical

   Located at the front, especially of a ship or aircraft.

   Grammar: Used mainly in nautical and aviation contexts, e.g. 'the fore cabin'.

   Patterns

   • fore deck
   • fore cabin

   The captain stood on the fore deck, watching the horizon.

   The fore section of the aircraft was damaged in the crash.

3. 3noununcountabletechnical

   The front part of something, especially a ship.

   Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'fore and aft', meaning the front and back of a ship.

   Patterns

   • fore and aft

   The ship was packed fore and aft with cargo.

   He walked from fore to aft, checking the ropes.

Common combinations

fore and aft

The sailors cleaned the ship from fore and aft.

to the fore

She came to the fore as a leader during the crisis.

fore deck

They sat on the fore deck enjoying the sea breeze.

Synonyms and how they differ

front

General word for the forward part; 'fore' is mostly limited to ships and aircraft.

forward

Means toward the front; 'fore' describes a position at the front.

Opposites

Word family

forecastle noun

The forward part of a ship where the crew lives.

forehand noun

A stroke in tennis played with the palm facing forward.

Commonly confused: fore or four? fore or for?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “fore”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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