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
Synonyms
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
Susan Young, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024
Add the cubed butter to the bowl, and using a fork and/or your fingertips, work the butter into the flour mixture to form a shaggy dough, making sure to break up any large lumps.
—Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2024
Jill Schlesinger, The Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2024
The firm earlier this year said the average U.S. household subscribes to four subscription streaming services and forks over $61 a month, often in addition to paying for traditional TV.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fork 
Noun
In an effort to get sparks to fly, Summer went downstairs to ask him for a fork knowing full well where they were kept.
—Susan Young, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024
Add the cubed butter to the bowl, and using a fork and/or your fingertips, work the butter into the flour mixture to form a shaggy dough, making sure to break up any large lumps.
—Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2024
Verb
The reason is that very few households can fork over tens of thousands of dollars to replace what is lost in a home, let alone the steep price to rebuild.
—Jill Schlesinger, The Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2024
The firm earlier this year said the average U.S. household subscribes to four subscription streaming services and forks over $61 a month, often in addition to paying for traditional TV.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fork
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fork.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fork
Cite this Entry
“Fork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fork. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
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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