ford
1 Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
-
Elizabeth Bloomer Betty, 1918–2011, U.S. First Lady 1974–77 (wife of Gerald R. Ford).
-
Ford Madox Ford Madox Hueffer, 1873–1939, English novelist, poet, critic, and editor.
-
Gerald R(udolph, Jr.) Leslie Lynch King, Jr., 1913–2006, U.S. political leader: congressman 1948–73; vice president 1973–74; 38th president of the U.S. 1974–77.
-
Guy Stanton, 1873–1963, U.S. historian, educator, and editor.
-
Henry, 1863–1947, U.S. automobile manufacturer.
-
John, 1586?–c1640, English playwright.
-
John Sean O'Feeney, 1895–1973, U.S. film director.
-
a male given name.
noun
-
Ford Maddox (ˈmædəks) original name Ford Madox Hueffer . 1873–1939, English novelist, editor, and critic; works include The Good Soldier (1915) and the war tetralogy Parade's End (1924–28).
-
Gerald R ( udolph ). 1913–2006, US politician; 38th president of the US (1974–77)
-
Harrison . born 1942, US film actor. His films include Star Wars (1977) and its sequels, Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and its sequels, Bladerunner (1982), Clear and Present Danger (1994), and What Lies Beneath (2000)
-
Henry . 1863–1947, US car manufacturer, who pioneered mass production
-
John . 1586–?1639, English dramatist; author of revenge tragedies such as 'Tis Pity She's a Whore (1633)
-
John , real name Sean O'Feeney . 1895–1973, US film director, esp of Westerns such as Stagecoach (1939) and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has fordedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have fordedperfect
-
are fordingprogressive
-
am fordingprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been fordingperfect progressive
-
fordssingular 3rd person
-
is fordingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
fordingparticiple
-
has been fordingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
-
had fordedperfect
-
was fordingprogressive singular
-
had been fordingperfect progressive
-
were fordingprogressive plural
-
fordedparticiple
-
fordedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of ford
before 900; Middle English (noun), Old English; cognate with Old Frisian forda, German Furt; akin to Old Norse fjǫrthr, fare, port 1
Explanation
When you’re out hiking in the wilderness, you may have to ford a river if there’s no bridge. Roll up your pant legs because you'll have to wade through the water at a shallow point. The verb ford describes crossing a body of water on foot at a shallow point or driving across it in a vehicle. The idea is that you’re not using a bridge or a boat to cross the water. Ford also has a noun form, meaning a shallow point in a river or stream. So if you ever have to ford a river, make sure you cross at the ford — the shallow point — or you could get very wet.
Vocabulary lists containing ford
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Hobbit
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Bridge Home
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Both GM and Ford have struggled with their EV businesses and are attempting to branch out.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
Perhaps the drastic differences between the aesthetics and the customers of Ford and Browne from Zegna are what will make this work.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
Ford is also building a battery factory in partnership with China’s CATL, which is viewed as giving the automaker a competitive edge in the battery energy-storage market, Nelson added.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
He took on the combined might of the global car industry and within 20 years of its founding his carmaker Tesla was worth more than Toyota, Ford, General Motors and Volkswagen combined.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
I hold him, but Ford flops and squirms and pushes, bucking like a bronco, trying to get away from me.
From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle
![]()
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.