as in parting
to go or move in different directions from a central point
the road forks up ahead and you'll want to take the right fork
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Recent Examples of forking
So far, one of the losers appears to be OpenAI in a lawsuit from book authors, who have steadily been building a formidable case that may force the tech giant’s hand in forking over a big settlement ahead of trial.
—
Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
Amazon is making a massive bet on AI this year, with the company forking over $100 million in capital expenditures in 2025.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
The partners are forking out $78 million for the IP with Angel’s portion of the investment at about $31 million in cash, its first big move since merging with a SPAC for a public listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
In the meantime, the eyes of NHL owners have strayed south of the border, where a handful of American markets have reportedly expressed interest in forking over expansion fees that could one day eclipse $2 billion.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
As the grand prize has climbed, so too has the number of participants forking over $2 per ticket for a chance to win the life-altering jackpot.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
By comparison, forking over what could be a mortgage payment in the form of rent each month is akin to throwing money away.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
Cats, while often viewed as aloof and independent, still need playtime, but before forking over hundreds of dollars for toys, one pet parent shared in a Reddit thread that some of the least expensive toys work out the best.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
The Dawn of Semipublic Schools Parents who are forking over hefty sums so that their children can attend a private school will likely soon find their schools are semipublic institutions subsidized by federal school choice dollars — and more expensive in the bargain.
—Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
Amazon is making a massive bet on AI this year, with the company forking over $100 million in capital expenditures in 2025.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025
The partners are forking out $78 million for the IP with Angel’s portion of the investment at about $31 million in cash, its first big move since merging with a SPAC for a public listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
In the meantime, the eyes of NHL owners have strayed south of the border, where a handful of American markets have reportedly expressed interest in forking over expansion fees that could one day eclipse $2 billion.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
As the grand prize has climbed, so too has the number of participants forking over $2 per ticket for a chance to win the life-altering jackpot.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
By comparison, forking over what could be a mortgage payment in the form of rent each month is akin to throwing money away.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
Cats, while often viewed as aloof and independent, still need playtime, but before forking over hundreds of dollars for toys, one pet parent shared in a Reddit thread that some of the least expensive toys work out the best.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
The Dawn of Semipublic Schools Parents who are forking over hefty sums so that their children can attend a private school will likely soon find their schools are semipublic institutions subsidized by federal school choice dollars — and more expensive in the bargain.
—Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forking
Verb
-
Love, give me lips and noses, skin parting tangy skin.—
Carson Colenbaugh,
The Atlantic,
9 Nov. 2025
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Daedone persuaded the swelling ranks of OM enthusiasts, givers and receivers alike, to join an experiment in communal living, gradually parting them from their wealth and autonomy.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Consider a night out with friends, and the diverging consequences of buying a round of shots versus opening up Instagram.—
Dan Brooks,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
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Now, among residents aged 15 to 49, those rates are about 5% higher, a pattern that began diverging in the 2000s and has steadily widened.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Great Again slogan appears just below the line separating overt and covert white supremacy.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
11 Nov. 2025
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Additionally, parchment is often used for storage purposes, separating layers of baked goods like cookies or brownies to prevent them from sticking together.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The singer's annual holiday clip is dividing fans this year.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
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Similar efforts have emerged in Missouri, where the state legislature passed a new map dividing Kansas City among three congressional districts.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The idea is that these are machines capable of mining resources, replicating and spreading through the galaxy over millions of years.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin directly blamed Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for fostering hostility toward law enforcement and accused the media of spreading false narratives about immigration operations.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forking. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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