English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

footballer

noun

A person who plays football, especially professionally.

footboard

noun

An upright panel that runs across the foot end of a bed frame.

footbridge

noun

A bridge built for pedestrians to cross a road, railway, river or similar obstacle.

footer

noun

(dated) A person who travels on foot; a walker.

footfall

noun

The sound of a foot hitting the ground as someone walks, or the step itself.

foothold

noun

A secure place to put one's foot when climbing.

footholder

noun

In Welsh mythology, a virgin maiden tasked with holding a warrior's feet in her lap.

footie

noun

(informal) A piece of soft clothing, such as a baby's sleepsuit, with built-in covers for the feet.

footing

noun

Balance or a stable position for standing.

footle

verb

(informal) To waste time doing nothing useful.

footless

adj

Having no feet.

footlocker

noun

A sturdy rectangular trunk kept at the foot of a bed for storing personal belongings, often used in military barracks or dormitories.

footloose

adj

Free to travel and act as one pleases, without commitments tying one down.

footman

noun

Historically, a male servant who attended the door, carriage, or dining table of a wealthy household.

footmark

noun

A mark left in a surface by a foot; a footprint.

footmeal

adv

(archaic) Gradually, a small amount at a time.

footnote

noun

A short note at the bottom of a page giving extra comment, reference, or citation.

footpath

noun

A path or trail intended for walking.

footprint

noun

The mark left by a foot on a soft surface such as sand or snow.

footslog

noun

An instance of footslogging.

footstall

noun

A type of stirrup used mainly on saddles made for women.

footstep

noun

The sound or mark made by a step while walking.

footstone

noun

A small stone marker set at the foot end of a grave, usually smaller than the headstone.

footstool

noun

A low stool that you rest your feet on while sitting down.

footway

noun

A path that only people on foot are allowed to use.

footwear

noun

Anything worn on the feet, such as shoes, boots, or sandals.

footwork

noun

Skilled or quick movement of the feet, especially in sports, dancing, or boxing.

footy

noun

Informal British/Australian word for football; depending on the region, it can mean soccer, rugby league, or Australian rules football.

fop

noun

A man who is excessively concerned with his clothes and appearance; a dandy.

fopdoodle

noun

(archaic) A silly or foolish person.

for

prep

Intended to benefit, belong to, or be given to someone or something.

for free

adverb

Without any payment being required.

for instance

adverb

Used to introduce an example that illustrates the point just made.

for sure

adverb

Without any doubt; certainly.

for this reason

adverb

Because of the thing just mentioned; used to link a cause already stated to the result that follows.

for what it's worth

phrase

Used before an opinion or piece of information to signal that the speaker is offering it without insisting on its value or expecting it to change anything.

forage

verb

To search for food, especially in the wild.

foraging

noun

The activity of searching for wild food, such as mushrooms, berries, or edible plants.

foray

noun

A short venture or attempt into an activity or area outside one's usual expertise.

forbar

verb

(archaic) To shut something in or lock it away.

forbear

verb

To stop yourself from doing something, or to stay away from it.

forbearance

noun

An arrangement in which a lender agrees to pause or reduce a borrower's payments for a set period instead of treating the loan as in default.

forbearing

adj

Patient and willing to put up with difficulty or annoyance without complaint.

Forbes

name

A Scottish surname, also known as the name of the American business magazine Forbes.

forbid

verb

To order someone not to do something; to prohibit.

forbiddance

noun

(law) An order that formally bans something.

forbidden

adj

Not allowed; prohibited.

forbidding

adj

Looking unfriendly, threatening, or unwelcoming.

forbode

noun

An order that stops a particular thing from being done.

forburn

verb

To ruin or harm something by setting fire to it.

forbus

name

A surname of Scottish Gaelic origin.

forbush

name

The name of a unincorporated community in Appanoose County, Iowa, United States.

forby

adj

Unusual and better than what is normal.

force

noun

Strength or power exerted to move, influence, or affect something.

force majeure

noun

A clause in a contract releasing the parties from their obligations when an extraordinary event outside their control, such as a war, flood or government ban, makes performance impossible.

forced

adj

Done unwillingly or under pressure, rather than naturally.

forceful

adj

Strong and full of power or determination.

forcefully

adv

In a strong, powerful, or determined way.

forcefulness

noun

The quality of being strong and full of energy or power.

forcemeat

noun

A mixture of finely chopped or minced meat and fat, sometimes with other flavourings, eaten on its own or used to fill other foods.

forceps

noun

A pincer-like instrument used by doctors and surgeons to grip and hold things.

forces

noun

The military, especially the armed services of a country, collectively.

forcible

adj

Done using physical force.

forcibly

adv

By using physical force; against someone's will.

forcing

noun

The act of making something happen, often against natural resistance.

ford

noun

A shallow part of a river or stream that can be crossed on foot, by horse, or by vehicle.

Fordham

name

An English surname and place name, also the name of a university in New York City.

fording

noun

The act of crossing a river or stream at a shallow point.

fordo

verb

To kill or destroy something completely.

fordrench

verb

To make someone very drunk.

fordrive

verb

To force someone or something to leave.

fore

adj

Situated at or toward the front.

forearm

noun

The part of the arm between the elbow and the wrist.

forebegotten

adj

Thought of or planned before something happens.

foreboding

noun

A strong feeling that something bad is about to happen.

forecast

verb

To predict how something, especially the weather or the economy, will develop.

forecaster

noun

Someone who makes forecasts.

forecasting

noun

A guess or prediction about what will happen.

forecastle

noun

The raised deck area at the front of a ship, or the crew's living quarters built within it.

forecaution

noun

Care taken beforehand to avoid a problem.

forechoice

noun

The act of choosing something before it is actually needed.

foreclose

verb

To take legal action to repossess property when a borrower has failed to keep up mortgage payments.

foreclosure

noun

The legal process of a lender repossessing property after the borrower stops paying the mortgage.

foreday

noun

Times that happened in the past.

foredeem

verb

To say what will happen before it does.

forefather

noun

A member of your family who lived a long time before you.

forefinger

noun

The finger next to the thumb; the index finger.

forefront

noun

The most important or prominent position; the leading edge of something.

foreganger

noun

A person or thing that comes before another and signals what is to follow.

forego

verb

To come before; to precede.

foregoing

adj

Coming just before, in time, position, order or importance.

foregone

adj

Already certain or decided in advance, leaving no real doubt about the outcome.

foreground

noun

The part of a picture or scene that is closest to the viewer.

foreguess

verb

To make a guess about something before it happens.

forehand

noun

A stroke, for example in tennis, played with the palm of the hand turned towards the direction the ball is hit.

forehead

noun

The part of the face above the eyebrows and below the hairline.

forehold

noun

(nautical) The front section of the space inside a ship where cargo is stored.

foreign

adj

Belonging to or coming from a country other than one's own.

foreigner

noun

A person from a country other than the one they are currently in.

foreknowledge

noun

Knowledge of something before it happens.

forelook

verb

To look at something ahead of time, as a kind of preview.

foreman

noun

A person who supervises a group of workers, especially on a construction site or in a factory.

foremath

noun

The grass or crop cut in an earlier mowing, or what is gathered from it.

foremost

adj

Most important, prominent, or advanced; leading.

forename

noun

A name that comes before a person's surname.

forenight

noun

The early part of the evening, after dusk and before you go to bed.

forenoon

noun

Another word for morning, the hours from sunrise up to midday.

forensic

adj

Relating to the scientific methods used to investigate crimes or establish facts in a court of law.

forensics

noun

The scientific methods used to investigate crimes and gather evidence for legal cases.

foreordination

noun

Prior determination or destining of something, including earlier ordination or appointment.

forepassed

adj

Describes something that happened earlier and is now over.

foreplay

noun

Physical intimacy before sex that builds arousal.

forerun

verb

To run ahead of someone or something.

forerunner

noun

A person who runs at the head of a group, ahead of the others.

foresay

verb

To say what will happen before it does.

foresee

verb

To know or realize something will happen before it does.

foreseeable

adj

Able to be predicted or expected based on what is currently known.

foreseeing

noun

The act of knowing something will happen before it does, or a vision of the future.

foreseen

adj

Predicted or expected in advance.

foreshadow

verb

To hint at someone or something before they appear or happen.

foreshadowing

noun

A technique in storytelling in which a writer plants hints early on about something that will happen later, so the eventual event feels prepared for rather than random.

foreshock

noun

A minor shake in the ground that happens just before the main earthquake.

foreshorten

verb

To draw or show something so that it looks as if it is going back into the distance.

foresight

noun

The ability to think ahead and plan wisely for the future.

foresightedness

noun

The quality of being able to think ahead.

foreskin

noun

The fold of skin covering the tip of the penis.

foreskinless

adj

Having no foreskin, having been circumcised.

forespell

verb

To warn of something that is going to happen, or to say in advance what will occur.

forest

noun

A large area densely covered with trees.

forestage

noun

The area of a stage that lies in front of the curtain.

forestall

verb

To stop something from happening by acting early to get in its way.

forestalling

noun

The act of stopping something by taking early action against it.

forestanding

adj

Standing out clearly at the front; noticeable.

forestay

noun

A stay that extends from the top of the foremast to the bow or bowsprit of a sailing ship

forester

noun

Someone whose job is managing or working in forests.

forestland

noun

Land that is covered with trees; woodland.

forestory

noun

A short piece placed before the main story to introduce it.

forestry

noun

The science and practice of managing forests, including planting, growing, and harvesting trees.

foretale

noun

A narrative that introduces a longer work, a prologue, or an earlier account of events already told.

foretaste

noun

A small taste of something before it properly happens.

foretell

verb

To predict or announce something before it happens.

forethought

noun

Careful thinking and planning done before you act.

foretime

noun

A time in the past, before now or before the moment being talked about.

foretoken

noun

A sign that warns you something is about to happen.

foretop

noun

The top part of the head, or the upper part of the forehead.

forever

adv

For all time; without end.

forevermore

adv

Forever; for all time to come.

foreverness

noun

The state of lasting forever and never ending.

foreview

noun

A view looking forwards, as opposed to a rearview.

forewarning

noun

A sign or warning that something is going to happen.