Meaning & use
forked
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Split into two or more branches or parts, especially at the end.
Grammar: Describes a noun directly: a forked branch. It is not used after 'very' or in comparisons.
Patterns
- forked tongue
- forked lightning
- forked road
The snake flicked its forked tongue.
A flash of forked lightning lit up the sky.
We came to a forked road and had to choose a direction.
adjectivenot comparable
Having a divided or split shape, often like the letter Y.
Grammar: Used before a noun to describe shape: a forked tail.
Patterns
- forked tail
- forked shape
The bird has a long forked tail.
The river took a forked path through the valley.
Common combinations
- forked tongue
- A snake's forked tongue helps it sense its surroundings.
- forked lightning
- The storm produced forked lightning across the sky.
- forked road
- At the forked road, turn left.
- forked tail
- The swallow has a distinctive forked tail.
Synonyms and how they differ
- branched
- Similar meaning, but 'branched' often suggests multiple divisions, not just two.
- divided
- More general; 'divided' can mean separated into parts, not necessarily shaped like a fork.
- split
- Often used for something that has been cut or broken into parts, while 'forked' describes a natural shape.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: forked or fork?
forked vs fork
As a noun, 'fork' is the object or the division itself; 'forked' is the adjective describing something that has a division.
Practice
Choose the correct word: The snake's ______ tongue is a sign of danger.
Choose one answer.
'Forked' is the adjective describing the shape of the tongue. 'Forking' is a participle often used for actions, 'fork' is a noun or verb, and 'forks' is a plural noun or verb form, none of which fit before 'tongue' as a description.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “forked”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.