foregoing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of forego
as in preceding
to go or come before in time if the sparse crowds are any indication of the public's interest in the presidential candidate, then his reputation obviously foregoes him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word foregoing distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of foregoing are antecedent, anterior, former, preceding, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

When would antecedent be a good substitute for foregoing?

While in some cases nearly identical to foregoing, antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

When is anterior a more appropriate choice than foregoing?

The synonyms anterior and foregoing are sometimes interchangeable, but anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

When might former be a better fit than foregoing?

The words former and foregoing can be used in similar contexts, but former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

When is it sensible to use preceding instead of foregoing?

The meanings of preceding and foregoing largely overlap; however, preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

How are the words previous and prior related as synonyms of foregoing?

Both previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage
a prior obligation

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of foregoing
Adjective
That is consistent with a shift observed in March last year among seniors, which authorities theorized could be driven by less severe disease in hospitals or more foregoing hospital care. Alexander Tin, CBS News, 4 May 2023 City dwellers are increasingly foregoing car ownership. Anna Funk, Discover Magazine, 9 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foregoing
Adjective
  • The agreement commits the streamer to investing 20% of its previous year’s net annual turnover in France in the development and production of European and French audiovisual works.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2025
  • His arrival comes after his headlining performance was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and a 2022 removal of Scott from the lineup following the deadly tragedy at his Astroworld festival the previous year.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • But there’s a difference between going through the motions and living in the moment — a key distinction many of the aforementioned 1 percenters could never appreciate.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Upon receiving Dean’s script, the aforementioned love story struck a personal chord with Derrickson.
    Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • That of the preceding year was sloppy and chilly.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
  • When holidays occur on weekends, most employers give workers the preceding Friday or the following Monday off.
    Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near foregoing

Cite this Entry

“Foregoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foregoing. Accessed 18 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on foregoing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!