forge

¹

[fawrj, fohrj]

verb (used with object)

forged, forging 

1. to form by heating and hammering; beat into shape.

2. to form or make, especially by concentrated effort.

   to forge a friendship through mutual trust.

   Synonyms: pirate, falsify, fake, counterfeit, build, create, mold, found, cast

3. to imitate (handwriting, a signature, etc.) fraudulently; fabricate a forgery.

verb (used without object)

forged, forging 

1. to commit forgery.

2. to work at a forge.

3. (of a horse at a trot) to strike the forefeet with the shoes of the hind feet.

noun

1. a special fireplace, hearth, or furnace in which metal is heated before shaping.

2. the workshop of a blacksmith; smithy.

forge

²

[fawrj, fohrj]

verb (used without object)

forged, forging 

1. to move ahead slowly; progress steadily.

   to forge through dense underbrush.

2. to move ahead with increased speed and effectiveness (usually followed byahead ).

   to forge ahead and finish the work in a burst of energy.

forge

¹

/ fɔːdʒ /

noun

1. a place in which metal is worked by heating and hammering; smithy

2. a hearth or furnace used for heating metal

3. a machine used to shape metals by hammering

verb

1. (tr) to shape (metal) by heating and hammering

2. (tr) to form, shape, make, or fashion (objects, articles, etc)

3. (tr) to invent or devise (an agreement, understanding, etc)

4. to make or produce a fraudulent imitation of (a signature, banknote, etc) or to commit forgery

forge

²

/ fɔːdʒ /

verb

1. to move at a steady and persevering pace

2. to increase speed; spurt

Other Word Forms

• forgeable adjective
• forger noun
• reforgeable adjective
• unforgeable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of forge¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English forgen, fourgen, from Old French forgier, forger, from Latin fabricāre “to fabricate”; fabric

Origin of forge²

First recorded in 1605–15; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of forge¹

C14: from Old French forgier to construct, from Latin fabricāre , from faber craftsman

Origin of forge²

C17: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

In 2022, Beijing signed a security deal with the Solomon Islands which has seen Chinese police officers embedded across the country, with another policing agreement forged in 2023.

From BBC

And it’s one thing to suggest that current approaches could be made more effective, but quite another to demonize them in the name of forging “better” warfighters.

From Salon

The Polish-born actress, 96, who escaped a Nazi ghetto as a child and forged a successful career in dance and drama, is thought to have died last weekend at the Pegasos clinic near Basel.

From BBC

A total of 65 devices, forged identification documents and money transfer records were seized during the operation there.

From BBC

Brown, who has forged a career as a successful TV commentator, later admitted "it wasn't the greatest moment of my career".

From BBC

Related Words

• build 
• construct 
• create 
• devise 
• form 
• hammer out 
• shape