forklift

noun

fork·​lift ˈfȯrk-ˌlift How to pronounce forklift (audio)
: a self-propelled machine for hoisting and transporting heavy objects by means of steel fingers inserted under the load

Examples of forklift in a Sentence

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.
Staffers were seen loading up forklifts and transporting boxes into the venue for more than two hours, and were still going past midnight. — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 Construction would require several tower cranes, forklifts, skid steers, drill rigs and concrete pumping systems. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 11 June 2026 Footage released by Xinhua shows humanoid robots gripping parcels from containers and placing them onto sorting lines, while autonomous forklifts transport loads through the warehouse floor. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026 The page said Beck had worked as warehouse forklift driver for the roofing company QXO and said he was known as a dedicated and dependable employee. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for forklift

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forklift was in 1944

Rhymes for forklift

See All Rhymes for forklift

Browse Nearby Words

forkless
forklift
forklike
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Forklift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forklift. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

forklift

noun
fork·​lift ˈfȯr-ˌklift How to pronounce forklift (audio)
: a machine for lifting heavy objects by means of steel fingers inserted under the load

More from Merriam-Webster on forklift

Nglish: Translation of forklift for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All