forge

noun \ ˈfȯrj \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

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

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But the forge, based on Russian designs from the 1980s, is outdated and the country oversupplied.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

— joanna robinson, HWD, "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 other 11 of them forged ahead and started their own negotiations for a trade deal without the US and without China.

— z. byron wolf, CNN, "Donald Trump is not a very good global economic chess player," 13 Apr. 2018
Here, the 29-year-old—who's currently in her sixth season at the Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York City—opens up about being the only black girl in her ballet class, forging her own career path, and why representation matters.

— brittany burke, Health.com, "Ballerina Ingrid Silva on Unraveling Stereotypes: ‘I Can Be Classical and Elegant With My Own Body’," 10 Apr. 2018
Shohei Ohtani is following a path forged by few others.

— usa today sports, USA TODAY, "Shohei Ohtani: 13 astonishing facts from his historic, two-way MLB entrance," 8 Apr. 2018
Through these meetings, partnerships were forged and ideas exchanged.

— tim ryan, Recode, "A whopping 80 percent of all venture capital investment goes to just three states. That has to change.," 20 Mar. 2018
The government said attendance sign-in sheets at the programs were frequently forged by the addition of names of health care practitioners who had not actually been present.

— CBS News, "5 NYC doctors charged with taking kickbacks for fentanyl prescriptions," 18 Mar. 2018
Bradley has the chance to forge a bond and pick up a pocket ally at no risk to himself.

— stephen fishbach, PEOPLE.com, "Stephen Fishbach's Survivor Blog: Why 'You Have to Know Your Type and Play Against It'," 14 Mar. 2018
It was extended through March 18, but no one knew if or to what extent the centers would be financed in a budget forged by a Congress whose majority hasn’t much empathy for the poor and vulnerable.

— ronnie polaneczky, Philly.com, "The day that Congress and Trump actually got health care right | Ronnie Polaneczky," 14 Feb. 2018
Some $1,200 worth of unauthorized and fraudulent charges were made on the credit card, and a check for $150 was forged and cashed to the woman's daughter, police said.

— jennifer james, Houston Chronicle, "Friendswood police: Second suspect nabbed in liquor store holdup," 29 Jan. 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

The Midwest Plant, part of an industrial complex that divides the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, coats steel forged at the nearby Gary Works with chromium and other rust-inhibiting materials.

— michael hawthorne, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago, surfers group challenge federal settlement on Lake Michigan chromium spills," 16 Apr. 2018
Heyman was set to work with another wrestler at the time of WrestleMania 18 in 2002, but before that partnership was forged on TV, Vince McMahon decided to switch Heyman to Lesnar after seeing how well those two had been working together.

— gene guillot, NOLA.com, "The best 34 parts of an awesome WrestleMania week," 12 Apr. 2018
Deliberate falsehoods aren’t a new media phenomenon, Mr. Walker pointed out, displaying a fake journal of Christopher Columbus forged in the era of early industrial printing.

— WSJ, "Former Trump Advisers Bullish About Second-Term Prospects," 12 Apr. 2018
Much of the commentary in France over the past week has focused on whether the country could forge ahead by itself in Syria if Trump follows through on his pledge to withdraw U.S. forces from the country.

— james mcauley, Washington Post, "France’s Macron takes harder line on Syria, asserting ‘proof’ of chemical attack," 12 Apr. 2018
Shohei Ohtani is following a path forged by few others.

— usa today sports, USA TODAY, "Shohei Ohtani: 13 astonishing facts from his historic, two-way MLB entrance," 8 Apr. 2018
With preliminary talks under way, diplomats, trade experts and business lobbyists warn that a broad British-American trade deal will not be forged any time soon, if ever.

— The Economist, "The promised post-Brexit trade deal with America may never materialise," 5 Apr. 2018
But his fight was a reminder that stronger bonds must be forged between veterans and civilians.

— michelle jenkins, idahostatesman, "Run As One celebrates the networks that empower, unite and enrich the lives of veterans | Idaho Statesman," 2 Apr. 2018
Presenting a gift of tobacco when a deal or contract is being forged can make the agreement more binding.

— dina fine maron, Scientific American, "The Fight to Keep Tobacco Sacred," 29 Mar. 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

Seen and Heard

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