forge

¹

[ fawrj, fohrj ]

verb (used with object)

, forged, forg·ing.

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, forg·ing.

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, forg·ing.

1. to move ahead slowly; progress steadily:

   to forge through dense underbrush.

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

   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

Derived Forms

• ˈforgeable, adjective
• ˈforger, noun

Other Words From

• forgea·ble adjective
• forger noun
• re·forgea·ble adjective
• un·forgea·ble 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

It is a landscape that inspires a rich poetic tradition, a forge that shapes cherished traditions and customs, and even a welcome refuge from troubling events beyond.

From Salon

But the younger Bawumia had forged a career in economics and banking - serving as the deputy governor of Ghana's central bank.

From BBC

Williams, who has since forged a successful solo career, also used his post to speak more generally about the pressures of being in a boyband.

From BBC

Regardless, Musk and Ramaswamy are forging ahead with hires, using language that suggests their project is the keystone of Trump's second term's agenda.

From Salon

It allowed Danson to forge ahead with his own career goals, at an age when people in other professions have usually long since retired.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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