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
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2025
Some don white tablecloths and give you separate fork salads, while others are a little less buttoned up.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2024
Kate Gibson, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2024
Four years ago, Dan Loeb forked over $20 million for a modern mansion overlooking Biscayne Bay in Miami Beach.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fork 
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Noun
Watch on Deadline Images of the scene showed authorities surrounding a white Ford F-150 pickup truck that crashed into a fork lift after it was driven through the crowd.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2025
Some don white tablecloths and give you separate fork salads, while others are a little less buttoned up.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
As a result, workers forked over more than $10 million in fees to transfer their earnings into accounts of their choosing, the CFPB claims.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2024
Four years ago, Dan Loeb forked over $20 million for a modern mansion overlooking Biscayne Bay in Miami Beach.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 17 Dec. 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 10 Jan. 2025.
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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