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

Costco staffers are compensated far above the retail industry average, and the company’s CEO, Ron Vachris, started on the warehouse floor as a forklift operator.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

A forklift truck operator has also been spotted wearing a Swift t-shirt while working at the venue.

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 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

In the same month, activist investor Elliott Investment Management confirmed it had built a 5.0% stake in auto-parts and forklift maker Toyota Industries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 24, 2025

The only two guys in sight were the guy driving the bulldozer and the fellow behind him, who was driving a forklift.

From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green

A procession of trucks and forklifts has been outside the arena for several days, while The New York Times has reported an increased police presence and street closures in the area from Thursday.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

However, they said the building does house about 60 forklifts that run on lithium-ion batteries, although those are “currently unburned.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2026

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

Hylla gazed at the rows of battle forklifts, now empty.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan