as in parting
to go or move in different directions from a central point
the road forks up ahead and you'll want to take the right fork
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Recent Examples of forking
As the grand prize has climbed, so too has the number of participants forking over $2 per ticket for a chance to win the life-altering jackpot.
—
Christopher Cann, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
By comparison, forking over what could be a mortgage payment in the form of rent each month is akin to throwing money away.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
Cats, while often viewed as aloof and independent, still need playtime, but before forking over hundreds of dollars for toys, one pet parent shared in a Reddit thread that some of the least expensive toys work out the best.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
The Dawn of Semipublic Schools Parents who are forking over hefty sums so that their children can attend a private school will likely soon find their schools are semipublic institutions subsidized by federal school choice dollars — and more expensive in the bargain.
—Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
That requires forking over grocery money from whatever is left of the cash Trumplandia is mainlining from kids’ dinner plates to the Billionaire Boys Club.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025
Christopher Cann, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
By comparison, forking over what could be a mortgage payment in the form of rent each month is akin to throwing money away.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
Cats, while often viewed as aloof and independent, still need playtime, but before forking over hundreds of dollars for toys, one pet parent shared in a Reddit thread that some of the least expensive toys work out the best.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
The Dawn of Semipublic Schools Parents who are forking over hefty sums so that their children can attend a private school will likely soon find their schools are semipublic institutions subsidized by federal school choice dollars — and more expensive in the bargain.
—Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
That requires forking over grocery money from whatever is left of the cash Trumplandia is mainlining from kids’ dinner plates to the Billionaire Boys Club.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forking
Verb
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Brighton & Hove Albion are poised to name Jason Ayto as sporting director after parting company on Friday with technical director David Weir.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
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Kuwahara and Fox/Bento Box are said to be parting on good terms, with both the exec and the company opting not to renew his contract.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Israel accuses the commission of having a political agenda against Israel and diverging from its mandate, and declined to cooperate with it.—
Emma Farge,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
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In this ambitious account, Wang, a technology analyst with a journalist’s eye for color, uses studies of Chinese innovation to show how the two countries’ diverging paths and pathologies can be traced to their political cultures.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The train then collided with the trailer, separating it from the cab, breaking it into multiple parts and rolling it.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
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New Jersey is creating a stand-alone Department of Veterans Affairs, separating it from military operations in a move aimed at improving oversight of services for veterans and their families.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That includes a subdivision map dividing the property into six lots and a request to replace the current zoning with a custom zoning plan tailored to The Village.—
Mona Darwish,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
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The network originated as an effort to accelerate the collapse of modern society by exacerbating social tensions and dividing society through violence, and has roots in white supremacy and fascism, Kriner said.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The bristles are neither too floppy nor too stiff, neither too long nor too short, and are cut to the perfect rounded shape that’s just right for swirling pigment over the apples or spreading it along your cheekbones—without having to work too hard for a completely natural finish.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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Still, Jones ran it to near perfection, spreading the ball around to Bourne, Jauan Jennings, Christian McCaffrey and Jake Tonges before hitting McCaffrey on a 7-yard score in the right side of the end zone.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forking. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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