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
Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
This fork design was commonplace on pre-1930s bikes.
—New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2024
Errol Schweizer, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Because getting a Ferrari requires more than just forking over loads and loads of cash.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fork 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Very large oysters can even be halved with the edge of that fork, although not easily.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
This fork design was commonplace on pre-1930s bikes.
—New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
In 7 episodes, Fuel to Fork exposes how fossil fuels power everything from farm to fork, and what the options are for reducing our dependence on them.
—Errol Schweizer, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Because getting a Ferrari requires more than just forking over loads and loads of cash.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fork
Dictionary Entries Near fork
Cite this Entry
“Fork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fork. Accessed 22 Nov. 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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