plural forks
Synonyms of forknext
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
4
: one of the branches into which something forks
5
: an attack by one chess piece (such as a knight) on two pieces simultaneously

fork

2 of 3

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

forker

3 of 3

noun (2)

fork·​er
ˈfȯrkər, 
ˈfȯ(ə)kə(r
plural -s
1
: one that forks
especially : a workman who lifts, transfers, or holds with a fork
2
obsolete : something forked

Examples of fork in a Sentence

Noun (1) 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Some, including the Idaho Potato Commission, swear that the way a baked potato is opened affects the texture, eschewing a knife for a fork to gently poke a plus sign into the surface. — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026 Suspension is taken care of by 43-mm upside-down forks with adjustable rebound and compression damping, and an adjustable central spring strut at the rear. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
Things that can be eaten with one hand, a spoon, sometimes fork, never a knife. — Raven Smith, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026 For the median homeowner, that means forking over $188 a year on their $3,000 tax bill, according to a Miami Herald analysis of Miami-Dade Property Appraiser data. — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fork

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Verb

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of fork was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fork. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

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

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
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