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⇱ FORK Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Dictionary Definition
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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
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 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 β€”used with over, out, or up
had to fork over $5000
forker noun

Synonyms of fork

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
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
The eldest daughter stood and put her plate and fork in the dishwasher. β€”πŸ‘ Image
Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026 Then, with the back of your fork, carefully roll the near edge away from you, a half-inch at a time. β€”πŸ‘ Image
Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
To catch all the action throughout the 2025 season, fans had to fork over at least $575, and some spent nearly $800. β€”πŸ‘ Image
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026 Altman has said bot conversations don’t have doctor-patient confidentiality, concerned a lawsuit could force them to fork over private data. β€”πŸ‘ Image
Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fork

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

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

Phrases Containing fork

Rhymes for fork

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

β€œFork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fork. Accessed 7 Apr. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on fork

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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