forge
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to form by heating and hammering; beat into shape.
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to form or make, especially by concentrated effort.
to forge a friendship through mutual trust.
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to imitate (handwriting, a signature, etc.) fraudulently; fabricate a forgery.
verb (used without object)
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to commit forgery.
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to work at a forge.
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(of a horse at a trot) to strike the forefeet with the shoes of the hind feet.
noun
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forges
plural
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a special fireplace, hearth, or furnace in which metal is heated before shaping.
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the workshop of a blacksmith; smithy.
verb (used without object)
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to move ahead slowly; progress steadily.
to forge through dense underbrush.
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to move ahead with increased speed and effectiveness (usually followed byahead ).
to forge ahead and finish the work in a burst of energy.
noun
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a place in which metal is worked by heating and hammering; smithy
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a hearth or furnace used for heating metal
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a machine used to shape metals by hammering
verb
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(tr) to shape (metal) by heating and hammering
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(tr) to form, shape, make, or fashion (objects, articles, etc)
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(tr) to invent or devise (an agreement, understanding, etc)
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to make or produce a fraudulent imitation of (a signature, banknote, etc) or to commit forgery
verb
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to move at a steady and persevering pace
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to increase speed; spurt
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of forge1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English forgen, fourgen, from Old French forgier, forger, from Latin fabricāre “to fabricate”; see fabric
Origin of forge2
First recorded in 1605–15; origin uncertain
Explanation
Have you ever seen a blacksmith make a horseshoe? Well, no, probably not, but they use a special furnace which is called a forge, and "to forge something" is also the act of bashing that hot object into shape. Forge has also taken on the more general sense of creating something. A new philosophy or art form might have been forged, as might an alibi or an excuse. To forge something also has the meaning of faking something, such as a painting or a signature with the intent to deceive. It can also mean to move ahead in a steady manner, either physically or metaphorically, much like those solid, regular blows of the blacksmith's hammer.
Vocabulary lists containing forge
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 4
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Fake It 'Til You Make It: Synonyms for "False"
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The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
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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:
You said you were looking forward to spending more alone time with her, presumably to forge a deeper bond.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
But one can’t forge an emotional connection where there is no stylistic resonance, no humanity within the text.
From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2026
Argos's new owners have ruled out deals with rival supermarkets, but they do plan to forge other "partnerships" and open new standalone stores.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
To achieve his objectives, De la Espriella plans to forge a military alliance with the United States and Israel.
From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026
He dropped it into the stone cooling pool in the forge to quench it.
From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman
"But it endures anyway as a tradition that forges character, one that sets us apart from other branches of the armed forces."
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
But Winocour finds calm hidden beneath the unrest, a moment to pause and breathe, just to feel alive as life forges on without our consent.
From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026
Instead, the story of a lone knight and his young companion forges a new tonal path in the “Game of Thrones” universe.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
The US space agency's Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon as China forges ahead with a rival effort that's targeting 2030 for its first crewed mission.
From Barron's ● May 21, 2026
If anyone can get near the forges, it’s them.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
For this filmmaking couple, reaching maturity as artists forged in the complex context of a modern colony hinges on acknowledging their limitations and still persevering.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
Al-Sharaa has forged closer ties with the west since coming to power, particularly the US – signified when he became the first Syrian leader to visit the White House in November last year.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
Ranged across what is now upstate New York, the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas had recently forged a “covenant chain” of alliance with several English colonies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
It did strike me as odd, however, that “Tony” is forged on a factual alteration that diverts Tony from the kitchen far too often — the movie’s cardinal sin.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
As it drew near the great furnaces where, in the deeps of time, it had been shaped and forged, the Ring’s power grew, and it became more fell, untameable save by some mighty will.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Rooted in authenticity, service and philanthropy, they’re honoring Appalachian culture by forging iron and blowing glass in their Craftsman’s Valley, while inviting you in to do the same.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
They are accused of forging documents to ship roughly 50 servers made by Super Micro to China.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
He received a hero’s welcome in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv after forging a tenuous Gaza ceasefire last October, visibly moved as he was drowned out by appreciative shouts of “Thank you, Witkoff!”
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
Norway, Chile and Australia and that the company is forging ahead with plants and assembly partners in Europe and the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
“I want to know what you mean, playing out of school and telling your grandmother lies and forging her name on your report and worrying her sick. What do you mean by it?”
From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
