English Reference
Noun

foraging

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US /ˈfɔɹɪdʒɪŋ/ UK /fˈɒɹɪdʒɪŋ/ for·ag·ing

n.the act of searching for and gathering wild food, like berries or mushrooms. You do this in nature rather than buying things at a store.

n.the act of searching for and harvesting wild food resources. Often associated with hunter-gatherer societies or the biological behavior of animals seeking sustenance.


SIMPLE

We spent the afternoon foraging for wild mushrooms in the forest.

CONTEXTUAL

The local community has seen a renewed interest in foraging as people look for organic, wild-grown ingredients like garlic and nettles.

COMPLEX

While foraging provides a sustainable way to supplement a diet, it requires extensive botanical knowledge to distinguish edible species from those that are toxic or environmentally protected.

Usage

Often functions as a gerund; frequently followed by the preposition 'for' when describing the search for specific items.

Usage foraging activity

After exposure to thiamethoxam, many more ants became much more active outside the nest, roaming through the foraging area before eventually dying.

Phys.org· 17 Aug 2026

Honeybees regularly visit these same areas while collecting nectar and pollen, raising questions about what happens when they are exposed to weedkillers during their daily foraging.

ScienceDaily· 6 Aug 2026

Common in science and environment writing

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated