forge

noun \ ˈfȯrj \

|Updated on: 21 Aug 2018

Editor's Note: Are "forging ahead" and "forging a check" from the same forge?

Definition of forge

1 : a furnace or a shop with its furnace where metal is heated and wrought : smithy

2 : a workshop where wrought iron is produced or where iron is made malleable

See forge defined for English-language learners

See forge defined for kids

Recent Examples of forge from the Web

On top of that, the kinds of powerful cosmic forges that would generate high-energy cosmic rays also would produce a torrent of high-energy neutrinos.

— amina khan, latimes.com, "After years of searching, scientists finally trace high-energy neutrinos to a distant blazar," 12 July 2018
Volcanic eruptions were Vulcan hammering at his forge.

— steven austad, AL.com, "Star gazing in the 21st century," 28 Apr. 2018
Now the apparel maker has released a new line of workwear made from a fabric named after the iron forge that was once used to make pitons, chocks, and wedges.

— wes siler, Outside Online, "This Patagonia Apron Is Made for Working," 12 Apr. 2018
But the forge, based on Russian designs from the 1980s, is outdated and the country oversupplied.

— The Economist, "A compelling look at the flaws in the Chinese economy," 22 Mar. 2018
Ken Kurtz cranks a blower as its gears scream, stoking flames in the blacksmith's forge, the center of the coals reaching more than 2,000 degrees.

— ben brazil, latimes.com, "Orange County Blacksmith Guild seeks to preserve the old ways," 26 Jan. 2018
The intro class costs $20 and open forge is $15, which covers fuel and power equipment costs.

— ben brazil, latimes.com, "Orange County Blacksmith Guild seeks to preserve the old ways," 26 Jan. 2018
Each time metal is taken from the forge, shaped, and put back in the fire is called a heat.

— brett martin, Popular Mechanics, "What It's Like to Be a Modern-Day Blacksmith," 15 Nov. 2017
KimberMills taps a forge in Eastern Europe to produce large parts that are beyond its works in England.

— peter s. goodman, New York Times, "What’s the Economic Cost of Brexit? Pineapples Tell a Tale," 31 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'forge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Are "forging ahead" and "forging a check" from the same forge?

There are many things you can do with the word forge in English. You can forge ahead (which, confusingly enough, can mean either "move slowly and steadily" or "move with a sudden increase of speed"), you can forge a check or a painting (make something fake), or you can forge a sword (make something real). The senses that relate to creating something (either real or fake) come from the same Latin word that gives us fabric, which is fabricare ("to fashion, construct"). We are not certain where the “movement” senses of forge come from, except insofar as we know that they are from a different origin than the “creation” senses of the word.

Origin and Etymology of forge

Middle English, "smith's workshop," borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Gallo-Romance *faurga, going back to Latin fabrica "process of making something, craft, workshop" — more at fabric

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Metals and Metallurgy Terms

assay, bloom, bullion, ductile, ingot, malleable, patina, plate, temper, tensile

forge

verb

Definition of forge

forged; forging

transitive verb

1 a : to form (something, such as metal) by heating and hammering

forged pieces of iron into hooks

b : to form (metal) by a mechanical or hydraulic press with or without heat

2 : to make or imitate falsely especially with intent to defraud : counterfeit

forge a document

forge a signature

3 : to form or bring into being especially by an expenditure of effort

working to forge party unity

The two countries forged a strong alliance.

intransitive verb

1 : to work at a forge

2 : to commit forgery (see forgery 3)

—

forgeability

play \ˌfȯr-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

forgeable

play \ˈfȯr-jə-bəl\ adjective

Recent Examples of forge from the Web

Right now the smart money is in all these media contracts, but any sports fan knows that the true iron of lifelong dedication to a team or a sport is forged from the in-person experience; media will change, but the sport itself will not.

— will leitch, Daily Intelligencer, "Nobody’s Going to Sports in Person Anymore. And No One Seems to Care.," 11 July 2018
The security came from one thing: joining NATO, an alliance of nations forged after the fires of World War II and expanded during the Cold War as a buffer against Soviet aggression.

— marc santora, New York Times, "Trump Derides NATO as ‘Obsolete.’ Baltic Nations See It Much Differently.," 10 July 2018
Watertown police officials are recommending criminal charges against former Assembly candidate Charisse Daniels for forging signatures on her nomination papers.

— daniel bice, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Watertown police urge criminal charges against former Assembly candidate," 2 July 2018
The angels were forged from melted cannons used in the civil war, and their blades are thrust down into the walkway as a sign that the battle has ended and peace has arrived.

— matías costa, Smithsonian, "The Battle Over the Memory of the Spanish Civil War," 28 June 2018
The controversy came to light two weeks ago when The Arizona Republic reported that dozens of voters said their names were forged on petitions for Syms.

— alison steinbach, azcentral, "Judge removes Mark Syms from Arizona Senate ballot following forgery accusations," 22 June 2018
Photo: Getty The 1997 agreement, forged after two organizations filed a class-action lawsuit more than a decade earlier, bars the government from holding migrant children.

— sadie gurman, WSJ, "Trump Order on Migrant Families May Face Legal Hitch," 20 June 2018
Serena’s situation disintegrates even further at the end of the episode, when Fred brutally beats his wife for forging his signature on a document.

— refinery29.com, "The Handmaid's Tale," 14 June 2018
The partnership sounds similar to the one forged between Blizzard and internet giant NetEase, which operates the developer’s Battle.net in China, bringing titles like Overwatch and StarCraft II to a major market.

— jacob kastrenakes, The Verge, "Valve will officially launch Steam in China," 11 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of forge

Middle English forgen "to form, shape (metal by heat), invent, contrive, counterfeit," borrowed from Anglo-French forger, forgier, going back to Latin fabricāre, fabricārī "to fashion, shape, construct" — more at fabricate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

forge

verb

Definition of forge

forged; forging

intransitive verb

1 : to move forward slowly and steadily

the ship forged ahead through heavy seas

2 : to move with a sudden increase of speed and power

forged into the lead

forged ahead in marketing the product

Recent Examples of forge from the Web

In invoking the West, Dreher could have looked at more recent hallmarks: the agreements forged in the aftermath of World War II on human rights, say, or the duty of rich nations to care for desperate people displaced by violence.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "Rod Dreher’s Bad History," 3 July 2018
For Pratt, Mars serves as the crucible in which NASA’s future planetary protection policies are being forged.

— leonard david, Scientific American, "As Space Becomes a Busy Place, NASA Bolsters Its Planet-Contamination Police," 3 July 2018
Trump and Kim could agree on a declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War, the fire in which his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, forged the North Korean state.

— robert birsel, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump, Kim launch historic Singapore summit with a handshake," 12 June 2018
Katz nails Bessie's pragmatism forged in tragedies.

— marvin glassman, Jewish Journal, "Mother, daughter team in drama 'From Door to Door'," 6 June 2018
So Serena forges the commander’s signature in order to seek help from one of the world’s top neonatologists, Dr. Hodgson, who happens to be a woman and is currently a Martha.

— rena gross, Billboard, "10 Surprises From 'Handmaid's Tale' Season 2, Episode 8 'Women's Work'," 6 June 2018
The hopes and dreams of FC Cincinnati's fan base are predicated on the past Cup triumphs forged at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "FC Cincinnati's top Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup moments," 6 June 2018
His first creation was the Phoenix Bird, a 5-foot-tall sculpture made from oak with feet forged from bronze that stands in the courtyard at Nepenthe and that locals have embraced as a symbol for the Big Sur community.

— wallace baine, San Francisco Chronicle, "Why did Old Hollywood celebs love Big Sur so much?," 31 May 2018
In a recent interview with Closer Weekly, Parton said credits her deep faith, forged during her humble Tennessee childhood, with getting her through the darkest points of her life.

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, "WATCH: Dolly Parton Credits Her 52-Year Marriage to Faith," 18 May 2018