Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sudden, brief, and often aggressive incursion or raid into enemy territory: This is the original and primary meaning, referring to a military-style attack to seize goods or cause damage.
   • An initial attempt or venture into a new or unfamiliar field or activity: A figurative extension of the first meaning, describing a brief, tentative involvement in an area outside one's usual expertise.

2. Verb:

   • To make a sudden, brief attack or incursion into an area, especially to seize goods: The action of conducting a raid.
   • To search for or take goods, especially in a quick or opportunistic manner: This can extend to non-military contexts, implying a hurried or unauthorized taking.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The bandits made a quick foray into the village to steal supplies.
  • Her successful career in finance began with a foray into investment banking.
  • The book represents the historian's first foray into fiction writing.

• Verb:

  • The troops would foray across the border to harass the enemy.
  • After the concert, we decided to foray into the city's night market.

Advanced Usage

• "To make a foray into": This is the standard collocation for the noun, used for both literal raids and figurative ventures.
  • The company is making its first foray into the Asian market.
• The verb is often used intransitively (e.g., "to foray into enemy land") but can be used transitively in its older sense of plundering (e.g., "to foray the countryside").

Variants and Related Words

• Forayer (noun): A person who makes a foray; a raider.
• Foraying (gerund/participle): The act of making a foray.

Synonyms

• Noun (raid): Raid, incursion, sortie, invasion, sally.
• Noun (venture): Venture, attempt, excursion, dabble.
• Verb: Raid, invade, maraud, plunder, loot.

Related Phrases

• Foray forth: A somewhat literary phrase meaning to go out on a raid or venture.
  • The knights would foray forth from the castle walls.

Related Idioms

• A foray into the unknown: Emphasizes the exploratory and uncertain nature of a new venture.
  • Starting his own business was a foray into the unknown.

Noun

1. an initial attempt (especially outside your usual areas of competence)
   • scientists' forays into politics
2. a sudden short attack

Verb

1. briefly enter enemy territory
2. steal goods; take as spoils
   • During the earthquake people looted the stores that were deserted by their owners