foraging

US: (fôr′i jing, for′-)

From the verb forage: (⇒ conjugate)

foraging is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

for•ag•ing  (fôr′i jing, for′-), n. 

1. Anthropology the acquisition of food by hunting, fishing, or the gathering of plant matter.

adj. 

2. Anthropology characterized by or dependent upon the acquisition of food by such means;
   food-gathering:
   a foraging people.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

for•age /ˈfɔrɪdʒ, ˈfɑr-/   n., v., -aged, -ag•ing. 
n. [uncountable]

1. Agriculture food for horses or cattle;
   fodder.

v. 

2. to wander or go in search of provisions: [no object]
   foraging through the countryside for food.
   [~ + object]
   foraged the countryside for food.
3. to search about:
   [no object] foraging for supplies.
4. to obtain by foraging:
   [~ + object] to forage berries.

for•ag•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

for•age  (fôr′ij, for′-), n., v., -aged, -ag•ing. 
n. 

1. Agriculture food for horses or cattle;
   fodder;
   provender.
2. the seeking or obtaining of such food.
3. the act of searching for provisions of any kind.
4. a raid.

v.i. 

5. to wander or go in search of provisions.
6. to search about;
   seek;
   rummage;
   hunt:
   He went foraging in the attic for old mementos.
7. to make a raid.

v.t. 

8. to collect forage from;
   strip of supplies;
   plunder:
   to forage the countryside.
9. to supply with forage.
10. to obtain by foraging.

• Gmc)
• Old French fourrage, derivative of fuerre fodder (
• Middle English 1275–1325

for′ag•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See feed. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

forage / ˈfɒrɪdʒ/ noun

1. food for horses or cattle, esp hay or straw
2. the act of searching for food or provisions

verb

1. to search (the countryside or a town) for food, provisions, etc
2. (intransitive) to carry out a raid
3. (transitive) to obtain by searching about
4. (transitive) to give food or other provisions to
5. (transitive) to feed (cattle or horses) with such food

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French fourrage, probably of Germanic origin; see food, fodder

ˈforager noun