: a shallow part of a body of water that may be crossed by wading
forded; fording; fords
: to cross (a body of water) by wading
Examples of ford in a Sentence
Noun
didn't attempt getting the horses across the stream until we had reached the ford
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Runners will have to ford the American River, using a rope to pull themselves across waist-deep water.
—Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 25 June 2025
Nearly 10 inches of ground clearance and torque aplenty allow the G 580 to scale a 45-degree incline and ford a depth of almost three feet—true off-road chops that let ambitious owners do more than preen at the Equinox valet.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 11 Feb. 2025
For those families who decide that languishing in a border town, trekking the desert, or fording the river is too dangerous, there’s another option: sending their children to the United States alone.
—John Washington, Harper's Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
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Verb
To ford the region's many rivers, creeks and bayous, travelers needed riverbeds with hard surfaces.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Runners will have to ford the American River, using a rope to pull themselves across waist-deep water.
—Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 25 June 2025
Nearly 10 inches of ground clearance and torque aplenty allow the G 580 to scale a 45-degree incline and ford a depth of almost three feet—true off-road chops that let ambitious owners do more than preen at the Equinox valet.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 11 Feb. 2025
For those families who decide that languishing in a border town, trekking the desert, or fording the river is too dangerous, there’s another option: sending their children to the United States alone.
—John Washington, Harper's Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ford
Cite this Entry
“Ford.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ford. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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Biographical Definition
Ford
2 of 5biographical name (2)
Gerald R(udolph) 1913–2006 American politician; vice president of the U.S. (1973–74); 38th president of the U.S. (1974–77)
Ford
3 of 5biographical name (3)
Henry 1863–1947 American automobile manufacturer
Ford
4 of 5biographical name (4)
John 1586–?1639 English dramatist
Ford
5 of 5biographical name (5)
John 1895–1973 originally John Martin Feeney American film director
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