forge

1 of 3

noun

ˈfȯrj 

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

2 of 3

verb (1)

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 sense 3)

forgeability

ˌfȯr-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

forgeable

ˈfȯr-jə-bəl 

adjective

forge

3 of 3

verb (2)

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

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• counterfeit
• fake
• phony

Verb (2)

• advance
• come
• come along
• do
• fare
• get along
• get on
• go
• go along
• go off
• march
• pace
• proceed
• progress

Examples of forge in a Sentence

Verb (1)

arrested for forging the doctor's signature on the prescription

both sides labored mightily to forge a peace treaty

loved the artisan look of that hand-forged copper pot

Verb (2)

the rescue team forged ahead despite the bad weather

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The famous Sazerac cocktail, perhaps the first cocktail ever, was originally made with French cognac (Sazerac de forge and Fils) before switching to rye whiskey sometime in the 1800s. —Jeff Burkhart, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2025

The traditions preserved and passed down through the beauty of Black motherhood, whether consciously or otherwise, forge relationships and stories that extend far beyond our twenty minute morning routines. —Cierra Black, Essence, 9 May 2025

Verb

True market leadership isn’t built during stable times—it’s forged through uncertainty. —Padmakumar Nair, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

Yet when the Obama Administration managed to forge a nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Netanyahu denounced it as weak. —David Remnick, New Yorker, 21 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Verb (2)

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing forge

• drop-forge

Rhymes for forge

• gorge
• sorge
• disgorge

Kids Definition

forge

1 of 3 noun

ˈfō(ə)rj 

ˈfȯ(ə)rj

: a furnace or a shop with its furnace where metal is shaped and worked by heating and hammering

forge

2 of 3 verb

forged; forging

1

a

: to form (as metal) by heating and hammering

b

: to form (metal) by a press

2

: to make or imitate falsely especially with intent to deceive : counterfeit

forge a check

forge a signature

3

: to form or shape in any way : fashion

forged an agreement

forger noun

forge

3 of 3 verb

forged; forging

: to move forward steadily but gradually

forged through the snow

Etymology

Noun

Middle English forge "workshop where metal is heated and shaped," from early French forge (same meaning), from Latin fabrica "workshop for making things of metal"

Verb

origin unknown

Medical Definition

forge

intransitive verb

ˈfō(ə)rj, ˈfȯ(ə)rj 

forged; forging

of a horse

: to make a clicking noise by overreaching so that a hind shoe hits a fore shoe

Legal Definition

forge

verb

forged; forging

transitive verb

: to make, alter, or imitate (as a writing) falsely with intent to defraud : counterfeit

intransitive verb

: to commit forgery

forger noun