forklift

noun

fork·​lift ˈfȯrk-ˌlift 

: a self-propelled machine for hoisting and transporting heavy objects by means of steel fingers inserted under the load

Examples of forklift in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Officers eventually located the forklift doing doughnuts at Ferns Park. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026

They must be shipped to theaters in multiple portions that are then hand-spliced together over several hours into a single, four-to-six foot-wide platter that is then handled with a special forklift. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 July 2026

His leading challenger is Daniel Keenan, a construction-company founder and a former forklift operator. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 July 2026

Electric forklifts now account for more than 70% of the forklift market in many regions, and supply chain leaders are increasingly investing in robotics, automation, autonomous vehicles and drones. — Darren Tan, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for forklift

• adrift
• airlift
• facelift
• festschrift
• gearshift
• makeshift
• redshift
• sealift
• snowdrift
• spendthrift
• clift
• drift

Kids Definition

forklift

noun

fork·​lift ˈfȯr-ˌklift 

: a machine for lifting heavy objects by means of steel fingers inserted under the load