forge

noun \ ˈfȯrj \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 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

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But the forge, based on Russian designs from the 1980s, is outdated and the country oversupplied.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
But, hey, Team Stark-garyen has a few dragons lying around who might be able to light up a forge for Gendry.

— joanna robinson, vanityfair.com, "Game of Thrones: This Tiny Detail Could Be the Real Reason Gendry’s Back," 13 Aug. 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

The band’s canon of 1960s classics forged a new chapter in Americana, stoking fantasies of a beach utopia for generations of landlocked listeners across the globe.

— jordan runtagh, PEOPLE.com, "The Beach Boys in Their Own Words: America's Band Tells the Tales Behind Their Pop Masterpieces," 8 June 2018
Sweeney has also forged a strong bond with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo over the past four seasons.

— matt velazquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Bucks' new coach brings five assistants from Atlanta, keeps Sean Sweeney," 7 June 2018
Forgery Someone forged a withdrawal slip using a resident’s name and bank account information on May 27 and withdrew $7,640 from the account.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Hinsdale police blotter: Driver charged with DUI after police say he was found slumped over steering wheel," 7 June 2018
Pebte is on bail for felony theft and forgery, where he is charged with forging a check, charging documents say.

— laurel andrews, Anchorage Daily News, "After woman follows suspects, police find stolen mail from across Anchorage," 5 June 2018
Many great — and lasting — friendships were forged on the playing field.

— lori riley, courant.com, "Coaches, Parents Question Policy For High School Transgender Athletes," 5 June 2018
The love and bond forged on those first teams of the 49ers dynasty is still a palpable, electric current 30 years later.

— ann killion, SFChronicle.com, "Dwight Clark’s death leaves a void in San Francisco’s heart," 4 June 2018
Over the course of the series, Janet has forged strong friendships with each of the show’s four human characters, as well as Michael.

— laura bradley, HWD, "How The Good Place Built Janet, TV’s Most Scene-Stealing Not-a-Robot," 4 June 2018
At various points in her year-long con, Delvey forged checks and borrowed money to maintain a high-end lifestyle that matched her own ultra-luxe tastes, scamming hotels, friends, and businesses in the process.

— morgan baila, refinery29.com, "The Stories Of New York's Glamorous Grifters Are The Perfect Ocean's 8 Pregame," 1 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

For example, North and South Korea could forge an open skies agreement similar to the one between the US and Russia that allows each country a certain number of unrestricted reconnaissance flights over the other.

— lily hay newman, WIRED, "It's Nearly Impossible to Hold North Korea to Nuclear Promises," 11 June 2018
Smaller countries like South Korea and Argentina have forged agreements with the United States in recent months.

— New York Times, "Trump Upends Global Trade Order Built by U.S.," 10 June 2018
The band’s canon of 1960s classics forged a new chapter in Americana, stoking fantasies of a beach utopia for generations of landlocked listeners across the globe.

— jordan runtagh, PEOPLE.com, "The Beach Boys in Their Own Words: America's Band Tells the Tales Behind Their Pop Masterpieces," 8 June 2018
Sweeney has also forged a strong bond with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo over the past four seasons.

— matt velazquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Bucks' new coach brings five assistants from Atlanta, keeps Sean Sweeney," 7 June 2018
After Fred says no, Serena forges his signature on the transfer anyway, and Dr. Hudson, the world-class physician currently being wasted as a Martha, is allowed to come and treat the baby.

— emma dibdin, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Handmaid's Tale Season 2 Episode 8 Will Make You Rage," 6 June 2018
Jones recently used a phony Canadian passport and forged documents to land a $1 million mortgage on a beachfront Fort Lauderdale luxury house that didn't belong to him, according to a Coral Gables businessman who co-owns the property.

— david ovalle, miamiherald, "He scammed celebrities with phantom Heat tickets. As a fugitive, he kept running scams | Miami Herald," 15 May 2018
Authorities in Georgia have accused a Campo man of supplying officials there with forged military discharge documents as part of his bid to be the fire chief in an Atlanta suburb.

— teri figueroa, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Campo man accused of forging military discharge documents in bid to be fire chief in Georgia," 27 Apr. 2018
Ryan Anderson, Attorney General's office spokesman Letterhead exposed forged documents Phoenix city officials began scrutinizing the lobbyist registration status of Burch & Cracchiolo and another lobbyist in early 2017.

— rob o'dell, azcentral, "Woman at center of Phoenix lobbyist forgery scandal convicted," 12 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of forge

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1611

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

FORGE Defined for English Language Learners

forge

noun

Definition of forge for English Language Learners

: a place where objects are made by heating and shaping metal

FORGE Defined for Kids

forge

verb \ ˈfȯrj \

Definition of forge for Students

forged; forging

1 : to shape and work metal by heating and hammering

2 : to bring into existence

forging friendships

3 : to produce something that is not genuine : counterfeit

The check was forged.

—

forger

noun

forge

noun

Definition of forge for Students

: a place where objects are made by heating and shaping metal

forge

verb

Definition of forge for Students

forged; forging

: to move forward slowly but steadily

We forged through the storm.

Medical Dictionary

forge

intransitive verb \ ˈfō(ə)rj, ˈfȯ(ə)rj \

medical Definition of forge

forged; forging

of a horse

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

Law Dictionary

forge

verb

legal Definition of forge

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

Learn More about forge

See words that rhyme with forge Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for forge Spanish Central: Translation of forge Nglish: Translation of forge for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of forge for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about forge

Seen and Heard

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forge

Definition of forge

Recent Examples of forge from the Web

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

Origin and Etymology of forge

Other Metals and Metallurgy Terms

forge

Definition of forge

forgeability

forgeable

Recent Examples of forge from the Web

Origin and Etymology of forge

forge

Definition of forge

Recent Examples of forge from the Web

Origin and Etymology of forge

FORGE Defined for English Language Learners

forge

Definition of forge for English Language Learners

FORGE Defined for Kids

forge

Definition of forge for Students

forger

forge

Definition of forge for Students

forge

Definition of forge for Students

Medical Dictionary

forge

medical Definition of forge

Law Dictionary

forge

legal Definition of forge

forger

Learn More about forge

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