fork

1 of 2

noun

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
4
: one of the branches into which something forks
5
: an attack by one chess piece (such as a knight) on two pieces simultaneously
forkful noun

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
Noun
The kind of guy who never bothered to buy hand soap (just used shower gel), whose kitchen cupboards contained two plate-bowls, a mug, a fork, and three huge tubs of cookies and cream protein powder. Kate Lloyd, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2024 While the mushrooms are cooking, place the miso paste, butter and garlic into a small bowl and, using the back of a fork, mash everything together. Emily Weinstein, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 Another time, the Amazon bot suggested items such as a small compost bin, compost bin liners, a garden fork and a compost thermometer. Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024 Add your organic soil to the bed first, and then your layers of amendments, and gently mix them in with a garden fork or hand fork. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Missing Texas girl found dead, father's friend expected to be charged LAPD releases footage of fatal shooting of man holding a plastic fork Nearly 5,000 People Have Died By Gun Violence In 2024 What is the most venomous snake in the world? USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Use the back of a fork to mash ingredients together until evenly combined and smooth. Matt Moore, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2024 Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork. Bonnie S. Benwick, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 In a small glass measuring cup with a handle, add vinegar and salt; stir with a fork to dissolve salt. Cathy Thomas, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024
Verb
Office, retail and dining spaces would fork over $9.08, $12.06 and $15.80 for every 1,000 square feet of space, respectively. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2024 Serious investment has been put into the WPL, whose five teams fetched $572 million on the back of Viacom 18 forking out $116 million for the media rights for the next five years. Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Where travelers will have to fork up is accommodations, especially during peak weekends. Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 But even when presented with this, the most modest and daintiest wedge of rind-on watermelon, my mother will slice the flesh away with a knife and fork and cut it up before eating it. Seyward Darby, Longreads, 24 Jan. 2024 While this might sound like an easy way to make a purchase without forking over the full amount at once, these loans aren't risk-free. Becca Stanek, theweek, 10 Jan. 2024 On top of a lifetime hunting ban, Stamey will also fork over two guns, 14 mounts, venison, turkey parts, and $12,500 in restitution. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 29 Feb. 2024 Hospitals have had to fork out extra cash to staffing agencies and senior employees to help keep services running. Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 California taxpayers forked over $22 billion in the last six years only to see the crisis grow to its highest level ever. Scott Wilk, Orange County Register, 4 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fork.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near fork

Cite this Entry

“Fork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fork. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fork

1 of 2 noun
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

fork

noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on fork

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