forklift

American  

[fawrk-lift] / ˈfɔrkˌlɪft /

noun

• forklifts
  plural

1. Also called forklift truck,.  Also called fork truck.  a small vehicle with two power-operated prongs at the front that can be slid under heavy loads and then raised for moving and stacking materials in warehouses, shipping depots, etc.

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verb (used with object)

1. to move or stack by forklift.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• forklifts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of forklift

First recorded in 1940–45; fork + lift

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

forklift forklifts

"Plus the crates, plus people to look after them on the flights, veterinary care, even the forklift trucks to lift the crates up on to the plane are expensive, so it all adds up."

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

Some of the employees still work there, including Jorge Cuervo, the production supervisor, and Fabian Diaz, who mans the forklift.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2026

Shearn and a team of about 15 modeled the astronaut around the shape of a forklift and constructed its wire frame in their L.A. studio.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2026

When a Toyota group company attempted to take Toyota Industries private recently, Elliott initially opposed the move, saying that the terms substantially undervalued the Japanese forklift maker.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026

Mr. Broadwas’s son-in-law Doug drove the forklift truck.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

But we have electric forklifts; we have electric hostlers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

Cars, forklifts and a truck were also confiscated.

From Barron's ● Dec. 20, 2025

He spent time in Iowa, Michigan, and most memorably, Alaska, where he operated cranes, forklifts, and anchored vessels as a dock worker at Pacific Star Seafoods.

From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2025

They might have, say, six electric forklifts but a grid connection only large enough for charging ports to supply two or three of the forklifts.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2025

Colin didn't particularly enjoy talking to strangers driving forklifts, but he silently started to walk out into the field.

From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green