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Ambush vs Foray - What's the difference?

ambush | foray |

In transitive terms the difference between ambush and foray

is that ambush is to attack by ambush; to waylay while foray is to scour (an area or place) for food, treasure, booty etc.

ambush

English

Noun

(ambushes)
  • The act of concealing oneself and lying in wait to attack by surprise.
  • An attack launched from a concealed position.
  • * Milton
    • Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege / Or ambush from the deep.
  • The troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; those who lie in wait.
  • * Bible, Josh. viii. 19
    • The ambush arose quickly out of their place.

    Derived terms

    * ambush marketing * ambush journalism

    Verb

    (es)
  • To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy.
  • * Dryden
    • By ambushed men behind their temple laid / We have the king of Mexico betrayed.
  • To attack by ambush; to waylay.

    • foray

    English

    (wikipedia foray)

    Alternative forms

    * forrey

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A sudden or irregular incursion in border warfare; hence, any irregular incursion for war or spoils; a raid.
  • A brief excursion or attempt especially outside one's accustomed sphere.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=September 27 , author=Alistair Magowan , title=Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Bastian Schweinsteiger and Muller were among many who should have added the third, and City were limited to rare forays with the excellent Boateng pinching the ball off Aguero and Aleksandar Kolarov shooting wide in stoppage time. }}

    Verb

  • To scour (an area or place) for food, treasure, booty etc.
  • *:
    • Thenne on a tyme the kynge called syr florence a knyght / and sayd to hym they lacked vytaylle / and not ferre from hens ben grete forestes and woodes / wherin ben many of myn enemyes with moche bestyayl / I wyl that thou make the redy and goo thyder in foreyeng / and take with the syr Gawayn my neuew
  • To pillage; to ravage.