Illustration of fold
- fold 4a
folded; folding; folds
1
: to lay one part over another part of
fold a letter
2
: to reduce the length or bulk of by doubling over
fold a tent
3
: to clasp together : entwine
fold the hands
4
: to clasp or enwrap closely : embrace
5
a
: to incorporate (a food ingredient) into a mixture by repeated gentle overturnings without stirring or beating
b
: to incorporate closely
6
a
: to concede defeat by withdrawing (one's cards) from play (as in poker)
b
: to bring to an end
7
: to bend (something, such as a layer of rock) into folds
1
: to become doubled or pleated
2
: to fail completely : collapse
especially
: to go out of business
3
: to fold one's cards (as in poker)
1
: a part doubled or laid over another part : pleat
2
: a crease made by folding something (such as a newspaper)
3
: something that is folded together or that enfolds
4
a
: a bend or flexure produced in rock by forces operative after the depositing or consolidation of the rock
b
chiefly British
: an undulation in the landscape
5
: a margin apparently formed by the doubling upon itself of a flat anatomical structure (such as a membrane)
1
a
: a group of people or institutions that share a common faith, belief, activity, or enthusiasm
His former colleagues would be glad to welcome him back into the fold.
b
: a flock of sheep
2
: an enclosure for sheep
folded; folding; folds
: to pen up or confine (sheep) in a fold
1
: multiplied by (a specified number) : times
—in adjectives
a sixfold increase
and adverbsrepay you tenfold
2
: having (so many) parts
threefold aspect of the problem
Synonyms
Examples of fold in a Sentence
Suffix
It will repay you tenfold.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Phelan, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
Fit piecrust into a 9-inch pie plate; fold edges under, and crimp.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2023
However, five of those ventures — three trucking companies, a limo service, and a gas station and truck stop — had folded within a decade, according to incorporation records in New Jersey.
—Marina Dias, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
One of Joe Biden’s first acts as President, in 2021, was to reverse course again and return the U.S. to the Paris fold.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2023
The interior of this suitcase boasts one zippered half with a cross strap on the other half to keep your clothes neatly folded and in place during your journey.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2023
To fold, press on the top or the sides of the tent to bend the poles into a circular shape, resulting in a flattened tent.
—Tanya Edwards, Parents, 25 Nov. 2023
Tons of patio furniture like this four-piece rattan set, folding Adirondack chair, and wicker hanging egg chair are fun additions to your deck for additional seating options.
—Allison Faccenda, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2023
The packaging itself is part of the calendar, with a wintry scene that can be folded down and set on a table for display.
—Sarah Bradley, Parents, 16 Nov. 2023
Lauren Levy, Parents, 27 Nov. 2023
The manner in which faith becomes works in politics, however, can be like an intricate knot, with many folds.
—Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023
These folds are ready to flatten out and expand whenever the stomach has to relax and make room for incoming meals.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 7 Oct. 2023
The quake’s mysterious source, Fernando and his co-authors posit, lies perhaps 20 kilometers below the surface, stemming from faults and folds that form in the planet’s slowly shrinking crust.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023
And Get This Folding Board This Folding Board effortlessly creates uniform and neat folds.
—Hannah Rice, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2023
Even the box is hitting all the right nostalgia buttons, replicating almost perfectly the exact look of a 360 box, right down to those frustrating side folds.
—Ash Parrish, The Verge, 8 Sep. 2023
Available in white, brown and mint green, this little gem folds perfectly into itself for traveling light.
—Meredith Woerner, Variety, 10 Oct. 2023
They Fall also welcomed an exciting new filmmaking face to the cinematic fold in local London boy Jeymes Samuel, the debut director previously better known by his singer/songwriter and music producer moniker The Bullitts.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Oct. 2023
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Verb
Large language models have traditionally not been able to fold the latest information into their results.
—David Phelan, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
Fit piecrust into a 9-inch pie plate; fold edges under, and crimp.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2023
However, five of those ventures — three trucking companies, a limo service, and a gas station and truck stop — had folded within a decade, according to incorporation records in New Jersey.
—Marina Dias, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
One of Joe Biden’s first acts as President, in 2021, was to reverse course again and return the U.S. to the Paris fold.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2023
The interior of this suitcase boasts one zippered half with a cross strap on the other half to keep your clothes neatly folded and in place during your journey.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2023
To fold, press on the top or the sides of the tent to bend the poles into a circular shape, resulting in a flattened tent.
—Tanya Edwards, Parents, 25 Nov. 2023
Tons of patio furniture like this four-piece rattan set, folding Adirondack chair, and wicker hanging egg chair are fun additions to your deck for additional seating options.
—Allison Faccenda, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2023
The packaging itself is part of the calendar, with a wintry scene that can be folded down and set on a table for display.
—Sarah Bradley, Parents, 16 Nov. 2023
Noun
This all-terrain stroller didn’t weigh me down (which my aching back seriously appreciates), has the easiest one-handed fold, and is a seriously smooth ride.
—Lauren Levy, Parents, 27 Nov. 2023
The manner in which faith becomes works in politics, however, can be like an intricate knot, with many folds.
—Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023
These folds are ready to flatten out and expand whenever the stomach has to relax and make room for incoming meals.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 7 Oct. 2023
The quake’s mysterious source, Fernando and his co-authors posit, lies perhaps 20 kilometers below the surface, stemming from faults and folds that form in the planet’s slowly shrinking crust.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023
And Get This Folding Board This Folding Board effortlessly creates uniform and neat folds.
—Hannah Rice, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2023
Even the box is hitting all the right nostalgia buttons, replicating almost perfectly the exact look of a 360 box, right down to those frustrating side folds.
—Ash Parrish, The Verge, 8 Sep. 2023
Available in white, brown and mint green, this little gem folds perfectly into itself for traveling light.
—Meredith Woerner, Variety, 10 Oct. 2023
They Fall also welcomed an exciting new filmmaking face to the cinematic fold in local London boy Jeymes Samuel, the debut director previously better known by his singer/songwriter and music producer moniker The Bullitts.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fold.' 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
Verb (1)
Middle English, from Old English fealdan; akin to Old High German faldan to fold, Greek diplasios twofold
Noun (2) and Verb (2)
Middle English, from Old English falod; akin to Old Saxon faled enclosure
Suffix
Middle English, from Old English -feald; akin to Old High German -falt -fold, Latin -plex, -plus, Old English fealdan
First Known Use
Verb (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb (2)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of fold was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing fold
Dictionary Entries Near fold
Cite this Entry
“Fold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fold. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
fold
1 of 5 noun1
: a pen for sheep
2
: a group of people with a common faith or interest
fold
2 of 5 verb
: to shut up in a fold
fold
3 of 5 verb1
: to lay one part over or against another part
fold a letter
birds folding their wings
2
: to clasp together
fold the hands
4
: to bend (as a layer of rock) into folds
5
: to add (a food ingredient) to a mixture by gently and repeatedly lifting one part over another
6
: to become doubled or pleated
7
: to fail completely
the business folded
fold
4 of 5 noun1
: a doubling or folding over
2
: a part doubled or laid over another part
3
: a bend produced in rock
-fold
5 of 5 suffixˌfōld,
ˈfōld
1
: multiplied by (a specified number) : times
—in adjectives
a twelvefold increase
and adverbsrepay you tenfold
2
: having (so many) parts
a threefold problem
Etymology
Noun
Old English falod "pen for sheep"
Verb
Old English fealdan "to fold, make double thickness"
Suffix
Old English -feald (suffix) "being increased (so many) times"
Medical Definition
fold
1 of 2 intransitive verb
: to become doubled or pleated
fold
2 of 2 noun
: a margin apparently formed by the doubling upon itself of a flat anatomical structure (as a membrane)
More from Merriam-Webster on fold
Nglish: Translation of fold for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of fold for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fold
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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