foreplay

noun

fore·​play ˈfȯr-ˌplā How to pronounce foreplay (audio)
1
: erotic stimulation preceding sexual intercourse
2
: action or behavior that precedes an event

Examples of foreplay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
After all, in your world, foreplay starts in the mind—and nothing turns you on faster than mental chemistry. Colin Bedell, Them, 12 Feb. 2025 Where the first was hurried and fumbling, the couple take their time, prolonging the foreplay. Amy Wilkinson, Vulture, 23 Nov. 2024 Sometimes the best form of foreplay is as simple as relaxing. Suzannah Weiss, Glamour, 4 Sep. 2024 Try creating an environment of sensual safety, whether that’s through long, lingering touches as foreplay, or sharing your deepest fantasies without fear of judgment. Dossé-Via Trenou, refinery29.com, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for foreplay 

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of foreplay was in 1929

Dictionary Entries Near foreplay

Cite this Entry

“Foreplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foreplay. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.

Medical Definition

foreplay

noun
fore·​play -ˌplā How to pronounce foreplay (audio)
: erotic stimulation preceding sexual intercourse

More from Merriam-Webster on foreplay

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