Fore

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Fore

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

adjective, adverb, noun, and exclamation

Pronunciation

FOR  /fɔː/

Definition

Situated at or toward the front; the front or forward part of something. As an exclamation in golf: a warning shouted to alert those ahead that a ball has been struck toward them.

Plain meaning

Fore means front or forward — the fore of a ship is its front. In compound words like forefront, forearm, forecast, it means 'in front' or 'before'. On a golf course, Fore! is the urgent warning that a ball is in flight.

Register

Neutral in nautical and compound use. Informal in golf. The prefix fore- is standard across formal and informal English.