forage
/ˈfɒr.ɪdʒ/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To search for food or supplies, especially in nature or during hard times. It can also mean to search around for something useful.
- The goats foraged in the field.
- We foraged for mushrooms after the rain.
- He foraged through the cupboard for snacks.
noun
Food or supplies that are gathered by searching. This use is less common in everyday English.
- The animals depend on forage in winter.
- They stored forage for the horses.
- Dry forage is hard to find in summer.
Adinary Nuance
Forage is more specific than "search" because it often suggests looking for food, supplies, or useful items in a practical way. It is also less formal than "scavenge" when people are simply looking carefully through things. Writers choose "forage" when the search feels physical, needed, or outdoors.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- kiếm ăn
- Spanish
- buscar alimento
- Chinese
- 觅食
- Japanese
- 採食する
- Korean
- 먹이를 찾다
Etymology
Forage came into English from French in the Middle Ages, and it was first used for searching for food for animals or soldiers. It is related to older words for fodder and feeding.
Common phrases
forage for foodforage in the woodsforage through
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is forage a common word in everyday English?
- It is not very common in casual speech. People use it more in writing, nature topics, and about animals.
- What is the difference between forage and search?
- Search is general. Forage usually means looking for food or useful things, often outdoors or in a practical way.
- Can I say forage through my bag?
- Yes, that sounds natural. It means looking through your bag carefully for something.