# fore

/ˈfɔɹ/ (US) · /fˈɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fore
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. position of prominence

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the front or most important position.

For teachers: the most prominent or forward position, typically used in the prepositional phrase 'to the fore'.

- The issue of climate change has come to the fore in recent elections.
- The candidate's extensive experience in international diplomacy came to the fore during the televised debate, distinguishing her from her less-seasoned rivals.

Usage: Almost always appears in the fixed idiom 'to the fore' or 'at the fore'.

### 2. situated at the front

adjective · CEFR B2

located at or near the front of something, like a ship or a building.

For teachers: situated at or toward the front; in nautical contexts, it refers to the part of the vessel near the bow.

- The horse injured its right fore leg during the race.
- The sailors gathered on the fore deck to prepare the lines as the ship approached the narrow harbour entrance.

Usage: Commonly used in compound words like 'foreleg' or 'forecastle'.

### 4. towards the front

adverb · CEFR C2 · Technical

at or towards the front part of a ship.

For teachers: located in or towards the bows of a vessel; the functional opposite of 'aft'.

- The captain ordered the crew to move the cargo further fore.
- The structural damage was concentrated fore and aft, leaving the midsection of the hull surprisingly intact after the collision.

Usage: Used primarily in nautical or aeronautical navigation.

## Examples

- The issue of safety has come to the fore.
- During the debate, concerns about the environment came to the fore as the most important topic for voters.
- While the technical details were handled by the engineering team, the ethical implications of the project only came to the fore after the public consultation began.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.