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
Kathryn Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 20 Nov. 2024
Add potatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender when pierced with a fork, about 16 minutes.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2024
On average, parents spent 24% of their household income on child care with nearly half forking over more than $18,000 in 2023, according to an annual survey from Care.com.
—Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 12 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
Pierce the skin of the sweet potatoes all over with a fork, spray with cooking spray, and place in a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish.
—Kathryn Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 20 Nov. 2024
Add potatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender when pierced with a fork, about 16 minutes.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
Hikers looking for a slightly more waterproof, breathable shell can fork over $30 extra for the brand’s (still extremely affordable) Rainier jacket.
—Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2024
On average, parents spent 24% of their household income on child care with nearly half forking over more than $18,000 in 2023, according to an annual survey from Care.com.
—Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 12 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 28 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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