fork

1 of 2

noun

ˈfȯrk 

plural forks

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 see also fork in the road

b

: confluence

4

: one of the branches into which something forks

5

: an attack by one chess piece (such as a knight) on two pieces simultaneously

forkful

ˈfȯrk-ˌfu̇l 

noun

fork

2 of 2

verb

forked; forking; forks

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

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

Synonyms of fork

Verb

• part
• separate
• diverge
• divide
• spread
• branch (out)

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

Noun

The Puch wears race-spec WP suspension forks sourced from a 1993 Aprilia RS 125 R Grand Prix racer, along with a single-sided swingarm from the same machine. — New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026

Drizzle the water over the mixture and toss with the forks, pressing the fat into the flour and evenly incorporating the liquid until a shaggy dough comes together. — ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

Verb

Friends and colleagues got together, forked over twenty dollars or so, and drafted an imaginary team of real players. — New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026

But 15 years is a long time to wait for a company to fork over the goods, and data centers are hardly known for going on long-term hiring sprees. — Sara Herschander, Vox, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English forke, from Old English & Anglo-French; Old English forca & Anglo-French furke, from Latin furca

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing fork

• fork in the road
• fork-tender
• tuning fork

Rhymes for fork

• bork
• dork
• pork
• stork
• torque
• pitchfork

Kids Definition

fork

1 of 2 noun

ˈfȯ(ə)rk 

1

: 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 verb

1

: 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

noun

ˈfȯ(ə)rk 

1

: 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