ford

1 of 2

noun

ˈfȯrd 

: a shallow part of a body of water that may be crossed by wading

ford

2 of 2

verb

forded; fording; fords

transitive verb

: to cross (a body of water) by wading

fordable

ˈfȯr-də-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

Noun

• shallow(s)
• shoal

Examples of ford in a Sentence

Noun

didn't attempt getting the horses across the stream until we had reached the ford

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

To ford the region's many rivers, creeks and bayous, travelers needed riverbeds with hard surfaces. —Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 15 July 2024

Other stats include several suspension options, more than a foot of ground clearance, the ability to ford 3 feet of water and up to 35-inch tires. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 25 Oct. 2024

Grab your wagons and oxen, and get ready to ford a river: A movie adaptation of the popular grade school computer game Oregon Trail is in development at Apple. —Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2024

These massive infrastructure projects, carved through mountain ranges and fording mighty rivers, transformed societies in ways barely imaginable by even their most fervent financial backers. —Sandy Carter, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old Norse fjǫrthr fjord, Latin portus port, Old English faran to go — more at fare

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1614, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ford

1 of 2 noun

ˈfō(ə)rd 

ˈfȯ(ə)rd

: a shallow part of a body of water that may be crossed by wading

ford

2 of 2 verb

: to cross (a body of water) by wading

fordable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

Biographical Definition

Ford 1 of 5

biographical name (1)

ˈfȯrd 

Ford Mad*ox ˈma-dəks  1873–1939 originally Ford Hermann Hueffer ˈhü-fər 

ˈ(h)we-fər

English author

Ford

2 of 5

biographical name (2)

Gerald R(udolph) 1913–2006 American politician; vice president of the U.S. (1973–74); 38th president of the U.S. (1974–77)

Ford

3 of 5

biographical name (3)

Henry 1863–1947 American automobile manufacturer

Ford

4 of 5

biographical name (4)

John 1586–?1639 English dramatist

Ford

5 of 5

biographical name (5)

John 1895–1973 originally John Martin Feeney American film director