plural forks
Synonyms of forknext
1
: an implement with two or more prongs used especially for taking up (as in eating), pitching, or digging
2
: a forked part, tool, or piece of equipment
3
a
: a division into branches or the place where something divides into branches see also fork in the road
4
: one of the branches into which something forks
5
: an attack by one chess piece (such as a knight) on two pieces simultaneously

fork

2 of 2

verb

forked; forking; forks

intransitive verb

1
: to divide into two or more branches
where the road forks
2
a
: to use or work with a fork
b
: to turn into a fork

transitive verb

1
: to give the form of a fork to
forking her fingers
2
: to attack (two chessmen) simultaneously
3
: to raise, pitch, dig, or work with a fork
fork hay
4
: pay, contribute
used with over, out, or up
had to fork over $5000
forker noun

Examples of fork in a Sentence

Noun a fork in the road the north fork of the river the front fork of a bicycle Verb The road forks to the north and south. They forked the hay into the loft.
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.
Noun
The flesh should change from translucent to mostly opaque and flake easily when gently pressed with a fork. Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 1 Aug. 2026 Evacuation orders have been issued for Salt Point State Park and Timber Cove, including north of Fort Ross Road, south of Kruse Ranch and Hauser Bridge roads, east of the coastline and west of the Gualala River's south fork. Richard Ramos, CBS News, 30 July 2026
Verb
Brutal temperatures have driven travelers to fork over $150 for the Shark ChillPill, a viral portable fan with three distinct cooling functions. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026 In 2004, just months after Mark Zuckerberg created the social media platform, Thiel forked over $500,000 for a 10% stake in the budding company. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fork

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English forke, from Old English & Anglo-French; Old English forca & Anglo-French furke, from Latin furca

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fork was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fork. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: a tool with two or more prongs used especially for taking up (as in eating), pitching, or digging
2
: a forked part or tool
3
a
: a dividing into branches or the place where something divides into branches
a fork in the road
b
: a branch of a fork
take the left fork

fork

2 of 2 verb
1
: to divide into two or more branches
the road forks
2
: to raise or pitch with a fork
fork hay
3
: to give the form of a fork to
forked her fingers
4
: pay entry 1 sense 2, contribute
had to fork over $100
forker noun

Medical Definition

1
: a forked part, tool, or piece of equipment see tuning fork
2
: the lower part of the human body where the legs diverge from the trunk usually including the legs

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