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
The Bulls couldn’t control the ball, forking over 20 turnovers.
—
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
So The Abbey Inn, run by the same family, is a brilliant chance to experience the chef’s farm-to-fork experience without forking out for a tasting menu.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
National debt now exceeds $38 trillion, with the government forking out in excess of $270 billion in debt interest payments alone in the final three months of fiscal year 2025.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Cosco Shipping is forking over $7 billion to China State Shipbuilding to build out 87 new vessels, expanding on the company’s already swollen order book.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 12 Dec. 2025
All of a sudden, cutting into a pork chop during a desert picnic or forking a salad in the Inner Hebrides offers more value.
—Jillian Dara, Robb Report, 28 Nov. 2025
Critics, however, say the considerable costs have put pressure on AI to deliver stratospheric profits, but little evidence suggests businesses or everyday users will get enough value to warrant forking over a mountain of cash.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Nov. 2025
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
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
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
So The Abbey Inn, run by the same family, is a brilliant chance to experience the chef’s farm-to-fork experience without forking out for a tasting menu.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
National debt now exceeds $38 trillion, with the government forking out in excess of $270 billion in debt interest payments alone in the final three months of fiscal year 2025.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Cosco Shipping is forking over $7 billion to China State Shipbuilding to build out 87 new vessels, expanding on the company’s already swollen order book.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 12 Dec. 2025
All of a sudden, cutting into a pork chop during a desert picnic or forking a salad in the Inner Hebrides offers more value.
—Jillian Dara, Robb Report, 28 Nov. 2025
Critics, however, say the considerable costs have put pressure on AI to deliver stratospheric profits, but little evidence suggests businesses or everyday users will get enough value to warrant forking over a mountain of cash.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Nov. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forking
Verb
-
Now, Keiko Aoki—widow of Benihana founder Rocky Aoki—is parting ways with her bi-level residence spanning the Fifth Avenue skyscraper’s 33rd and 34th floors.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Fifty dancers lined the area before parting to reveal RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, dressed in outfits inspired by early Joseon-era generals.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The oil supply crisis has pushed both environmental advocates and the oil and gas industry to call for energy security, though from diverging standpoints.—
Chaewon Chung
April 13,
Sacbee.com,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Four years on from its last season, and various other press tours, brand ambassadorships, and diverging lives later, there emerged distinctly different red carpet aesthetics.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Removing barriers The new facility seeks to provide more dignity for clients and remove barriers that keep victims from separating themselves from harmful environments, Mortensen said.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
19 Apr. 2026
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A lot of people have a hard time separating the actor from the character.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ebus added that interest in Venezuela is already dividing potential investors, with smaller risk-taking firms eager to enter while major companies remain cautious.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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Much of the play is dedicated to Asaf trying to figure out this conflict between his progressive views and his faith and sense of history, and also to airing the arguments about Israel that were dividing the left in the George Floyd era and continue to do so in 2026.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That agreement, a 10-day pause between Israel and Lebanon, is part of a broader attempt to stop the conflict from spreading further.—
Sohel Uddin,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Violence remains unpredictable and is increasingly spreading beyond the capital.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forking. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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