1
: resembling a fork especially in having one end divided into two or more branches or points
forked lightning
2
: shaped like a fork or having a forked part
a forked road

Example Sentences

a bird with a deeply forked tail the forked tongue of a snake
Recent Examples on the Web The video at the 1:30 mark showing tanks on a forked road surrounded by trees was shared by a Russian news outlet in January before the U.S.'s announcement. Molly Stellino, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2023 Late afternoons introduced me to tiny forked footprints that marked the scene of, perhaps, an avian skirmish. Jessica Leigh Hester, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2023 In a 2016 study, Suddendorf and Jonathan Redshaw used a deceptively simple experiment to test the development of foresight in children: a forked tube with two exits, but only one entrance. Darren Incorvaia, Discover Magazine, 6 Sep. 2022 If a manufacturer builds a forked device and violates this contract, Google can revoke their Google app license and kick them out of the Android ecosystem. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 28 Oct. 2022 The forked Ethereum Classic, which is sticking with the token's original proof-of-work model, has emerged as an alternative trying to fill just that role. Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 16 Sep. 2022 As a child in Massachusetts, I would often sit comfortably wedged in the forked trunk of a backyard maple reading or weaving gimp bracelets in the branches of a neighbor’s beech. Tricia Glass, BostonGlobe.com, 30 June 2022 Near the top of a ridge, Dettamanti saw a forked object: an elk antler. The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2022 The video included images of a forked road, where the path of embracing God and Jesus led to a colorful place, while the other route led to darkness. Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forked.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of forked was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near forked

Cite this Entry

“Forked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forked. Accessed 6 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

forked

adjective
: having a fork : shaped like a fork
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