forge

noun

\ˈfȯrj

Definition of forge

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

forge

verb (1)

forged; forging

Definition of forge (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : 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 sense 3)

forge

verb (2)

forged; forging

Definition of forge (Entry 3 of 3)

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

Other Words from forge Are "forging ahead" and "forging a check" from the same forge? More Example Sentences Learn More about forge

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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.

Examples of forge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The fires were especially intense due to an unusually late start to the rainy season, which left vegetation dry as seasonal mountain winds kicked up like bellows in a forge. — Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, "What is going on with California’s horrific fires?," 13 Nov. 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The company has already forged an impressive track record with serials such as Bookburners, The Witch Who Came In From The Cold, and others. — Andrew Liptak, The Verge, "Two unlikely cops are paired up to solve murders in a war-torn Tokyo in Ninth Step Station," 8 Dec. 2018 Because the key was identical for all installations of the software, hackers could use the root certificate to generate forged TLS certificates that impersonated any HTTPS website on the Internet. — Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, "Sennheiser discloses monumental blunder that cripples HTTPS on PCs and Macs," 28 Nov. 2018 Jessica, an expert swimmer, took two big breaths and forged her way toward Noah and Stephen. — Jonathan Small, Good Housekeeping, "My Family Almost Drowned. Then, 50 Strangers Stepped In and Saved Us.," 16 July 2018 Basualdo, 53, heads that contemporary department and has forged a deep relationship with Nauman, acquiring several of the artist’s works for the PMA collection. — Stephan Salisbury, Philly.com, "He's shaping the Philadelphia Museum of Art's future - and has a past you wouldn't believe," 9 July 2018 This is more devastating than the time Sam's evil stepmother (Jennifer Coolidge) forged a Princeton rejection letter and gave it to her. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "Leaving Netflix in July 2018: These Movies and TV Shows Are No Longer Cool for the Summer," 20 June 2018 Chargers owner Dean Spanos and his staff will tell us about forging into their new L.A. market, and their seven-time Pro Bowl QB Philip Rivers will take us through a film study session. — Andy Benoit, SI.com, "The NFL in California in 2018: The Best Year Ever?," 18 June 2018 In the run-up to the meeting, Trump had predicted the two men might strike a nuclear deal or forge a formal end to the Korean War in the course of a single meeting or over several days. — Houston Chronicle, "Trump pledges security guarantees to NKorea after summit," 12 June 2018 Thorntons has been growing rapidly, adding at least seven stores since last year and forging into the state of Florida. — Grace Schneider, The Courier-Journal, "Report: Thorntons gas and food mart chain is on the sale block," 31 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The New England native forged his own path in the oil-and-gas industry before being elected to Congress from Houston in 1966. — Rebecca Elliott, WSJ, "George H.W. Bush Mourned in Houston Memorial Service," 6 Dec. 2018 The archetype was forged in the mid-1950s, in concert with the Jewish-American middle-class ascent. — Jamie Lauren Keiles, Vox, "How the JAP became America’s most complex Jewish stereotype.," 5 Dec. 2018 These donations can take place through fertility clinics, embryo banks, or personal connections forged in person or online. — Elissa Strauss, Glamour, "The Great Frozen Embryo Debate," 11 Oct. 2018 And in some ways, our actions on PCBs are forging a path for other pollutants to follow; the PCB bans were instrumental in helping to bring about regulations for other contaminants. — Cathleen O'grady, Ars Technica, "A decades-old pollutant is still threatening orca populations," 28 Sep. 2018 The world’s first atomic weapon was forged under pressure. — Paul Ross, Popular Mechanics, "I Am Become Opera: An Atomic Show In the Shadow of Los Alamos," 27 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 Great relationships are forged in the bonds of fire. — Trevor Fraser, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Date Night: New ways for making yourself sick," 21 June 2018 Cohen and Artemenko have dismissed the notion that their effort to forge peace between Russia and Ukraine was driven by anything other than altruism. — Abigail Tracy, The Hive, "Was Viktor Vekselberg Bankrolling Michael Cohen’s Pro-Russia Peace Plan for Ukraine?," 8 June 2018

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.

History and Etymology for forge

Noun

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

Verb (1)

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

Verb (2)

origin unknown

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