forked

1 of 2

adjective

ˈfȯrkt How to pronounce forked (audio) ˈfȯr-kəd How to pronounce forked (audio)
Synonyms of forkednext
1
: resembling a fork especially in having one end divided into two or more branches or points
forked lightning
2
: shaped like a fork or having a forked part
a forked road

forked

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of fork entry 2

Examples of forked in a Sentence

Adjective a bird with a deeply forked tail the forked tongue of a snake
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
To harvest wild rice in late summer, two people work from a canoe, one navigating with a long forked pole, the other using a pair of smooth cedar sticks to gently bend tall stalks over the gunwales and tap the ripe grain loose. — Tovar Cerulli, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026 Late-stage larvae then burst out, grow a forked tail, and swim to find an animal host. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026 Long, narrow, forked bracts also form a distinctive skirt beneath each Queen Anne’s lace flower cluster. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 18 Sep. 2026 Catching that pair with no tools except the forked stick and the hook posed a problem. — Dr. C. E. Kuschel, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for forked

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of forked was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing forked

Rhymes for forked

See All Rhymes for forked

Browse Nearby Words

fork beam
forked
forked catchfly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Forked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forked. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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