1
: an implement with two or more prongs used especially for taking up (as in eating), pitching, or digging
2
: a forked part, tool, or piece of equipment
3
a
: a division into branches or the place where something divides into branches
b
4
: one of the branches into which something forks
5
: an attack by one chess piece (such as a knight) on two pieces simultaneously
forked; forking; forks
1
: to divide into two or more branches
where the road forks
2
a
: to use or work with a fork
b
: to turn into a fork
1
: to give the form of a fork to
forking her fingers
2
: to attack (two chessmen) simultaneously
3
: to raise, pitch, dig, or work with a fork
fork hay
4
: pay, contribute
—used with over, out, or up
had to fork over $5000
forker
noun
Examples of fork in a Sentence
Noun
a fork in the road
the north fork of the river
the front fork of a bicycle
Verb
The road forks to the north and south.
They forked the hay into the loft.
Recent Examples on the Web
Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The new suspension fork makes riding in bumpy terrain smoother, and the shorter wheelbase improves maneuverability when riding through tight urban spaces – especially when compared to front loaders like FamilyNext Pro, for example.
—Stefan Ionescu
march 02, New Atlas, 2 Mar. 2026
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Under Paramount’s latest revision to its original proposal, David Ellison’s media conglomerate will fork over some $111 billion for everything under the WBD tent, including the sports-heavy cable networks division.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fork
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Patti was one of several Chicago judges to take the buyout — known among court personnel as taking the fork — which placed him on administrative leave until September of last year.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The new suspension fork makes riding in bumpy terrain smoother, and the shorter wheelbase improves maneuverability when riding through tight urban spaces – especially when compared to front loaders like FamilyNext Pro, for example.
—Stefan Ionescu
march 02, New Atlas, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Bulls couldn’t control the ball, forking over 20 turnovers.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Under Paramount’s latest revision to its original proposal, David Ellison’s media conglomerate will fork over some $111 billion for everything under the WBD tent, including the sports-heavy cable networks division.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fork
Cite this Entry
“Fork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fork. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fork
1 of 2 noun1
: a tool with two or more prongs used especially for taking up (as in eating), pitching, or digging
2
: a forked part or tool
3
a
: a dividing into branches or the place where something divides into branches
a fork in the road
b
: a branch of a fork
take the left fork
fork
2 of 2 verb1
: to divide into two or more branches
the road forks
2
: to raise or pitch with a fork
fork hay
3
: to give the form of a fork to
forked her fingers
4
: pay entry 1 sense 2, contribute
had to fork over $100
forker
noun
Medical Definition
fork
noun1
: a forked part, tool, or piece of equipment see tuning fork
2
: the lower part of the human body where the legs diverge from the trunk usually including the legs
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