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Synonyms

forefinger

American  
[fawr-fing-ger, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌfɪŋ gər, ˈfoʊr- /

noun

  • forefingers
    plural
  1. the first finger next to the thumb.


forefinger British  
/ ˈfɔːˌfɪŋɡə /

noun

  1. Also called: index finger. the finger next to the thumb

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of forefinger

First recorded in 1400–50, forefinger is from the late Middle English word forefyngure. See fore-, finger


Vocabulary lists containing forefinger

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

He held his thumb and forefinger in a circle over his eye in celebration.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2026

The procedure, called umbilical cord milking, involves gently squeezing the cord between the thumb and forefinger and pushing the blood into the newborn's abdomen.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2023

Simultaneously, people had to press a button on the steering wheel with their left forefinger each time a small device attached to their left collarbone vibrated.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 28, 2023

Carmy asks if his mom was psycho as he nervously drums a spoon between his thumb and forefinger.

From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2023

Then his right hand rose slowly to the side of his face and with his thumb and forefinger he gently caressed an imaginary earlock.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

To emphasize the designer’s practicality-meets-design approach, Rogen gestured to another Bosse creation, this one a hand-shaped brass ashtray with forefingers poised mid-pinch.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2024

Before receiving their handouts, men signed a list by pressing their forefingers dipped in blue ink; women used red.

From New York Times ● Dec. 24, 2022

Press the butter pieces between your thumbs and forefingers into small, flat pieces.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 25, 2022

When she landed firm and kept her footing on her final jump, she pointed one, then both forefingers to the sky.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 14, 2022

I reached down with the tips of my two forefingers and tickled the tiny, furry spaces behind the rat’s ears.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli

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