# foregoing

/fɔɹˈɡoʊɪŋ/ (US) · /fɔːɡˈəʊɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/foregoing
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. previously mentioned

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

mentioned or written just before this point.

For teachers: referring to something previously stated or written in a document or speech.

- The foregoing examples show how the new law will affect small businesses.
- The foregoing arguments demonstrate that the current policy is unsustainable in the long term.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies, or used as a noun phrase with 'the'.

### 2. going without

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

the act of deciding not to have or do something enjoyable.

For teachers: the present participle of 'forego', meaning to abstain from or do without something.

- By foregoing a summer holiday, the couple saved enough money for a house.
- Foregoing the traditional keynote address, the chairperson opted for a more interactive panel discussion to engage the delegates.

## Examples

- The foregoing points explain why we need a change.
- Based on the foregoing evidence, the committee has decided to approve the proposal immediately.
- The judge ruled that the foregoing arguments were insufficient to warrant a retrial, as they failed to introduce any truly novel information to the case.

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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.