1
: food for animals especially when taken by browsing or grazing
The grass serves as forage for livestock.
2
[forage entry 2]
: the act of foraging : search for provisions
They made forages to find food.
foraged; foraging
1
: to strip of provisions : collect forage from
2
: to secure by foraging
foraged a chicken for the feast
1
: to wander in search of forage or food
2
: to secure forage (as for horses) by stripping the country
4
: to make a search : rummage
forager
noun
Synonyms
Examples of forage in a Sentence
Noun
The grass serves as forage for livestock.
Verb
The cows were foraging in the pasture.
He had to forage for firewood.
Recent Examples on the Web
Liz Wheeler, Travel + Leisure, 24 Dec. 2024
During dry periods when forage production and availability for cattle feed decline, producers often need to purchase additional feed, or decrease the size of their herds — leading to higher costs.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2024
Tracy J. Wholf, CBS News, 1 Feb. 2025
Once inside, panda-seeking guests will be directed to the Asia Trail and David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat, which been renovated with shallow pools, bamboo stands for foraging and multi-level climbing structures, the zoo said in a statement.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for forage 
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Noun
Ballooning in the Maasai Mara Kenya’s most popular safari destination, the Maasai Mara National Reserve, comprises nearly 600 square miles of wide-open savanna — an ocean of gold grassland where thousands of animals forage, hunt, play, and rest.
—Liz Wheeler, Travel + Leisure, 24 Dec. 2024
During dry periods when forage production and availability for cattle feed decline, producers often need to purchase additional feed, or decrease the size of their herds — leading to higher costs.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
Increasing warmth also extended the window for foraging the rats.
—Tracy J. Wholf, CBS News, 1 Feb. 2025
Once inside, panda-seeking guests will be directed to the Asia Trail and David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat, which been renovated with shallow pools, bamboo stands for foraging and multi-level climbing structures, the zoo said in a statement.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for forage
Dictionary Entries Near forage
Cite this Entry
“Forage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forage. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
forage
1 of 2 noun
for·age
ˈfȯr-ij 
ˈfär-
1
: food (as pasture) for browsing or grazing animals
2
: a search for food or supplies
forage
2 of 2 verb
foraged; foraging
2
: to make a search especially for food or supplies
forage for grain
forage for firewood
3
: to get by foraging
forager
noun
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