forking

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitive

   Splitting into two or more branches, as a road, path, river, or tree does.

   Grammar: No object; the thing itself splits. Often used in the -ing form after 'is' or a noun: a forking road.

   Patterns

   • a forking road
   • the river is forking
   • forking into two paths

   We followed the forking path until it split into two trails.

   The river was forking around a small island.

   Ahead of us lay a forking road, and neither sign helped.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitivecomputing

   In computing, making an independent copy of a project's code so it can be developed separately.

   Grammar: Can take an object (fork the repository) or stand alone (the project forked last year).

   Patterns

   • fork a repository
   • fork the project
   • fork from something

   Developers are forking the library to add features the original team rejected.

   After forking the code, she maintained her own version.

   The community forked from the main project and released updates monthly.

3. 3verbtransitive

   Lifting or moving something with a fork, especially food or soil.

   Grammar: Takes an object: fork the hay, fork the potatoes onto a plate.

   Patterns

   • fork something onto something
   • fork the soil
   • fork hay

   He was forking hay into the cart all morning.

   She was forking potatoes onto each plate when the phone rang.

Word forms

Common combinations

fork in the road

Turn left at the fork in the road.

fork the repository

You should fork the repository before making changes.

fork out money

British informal: I had to fork out fifty pounds for the repair.

fork over the cash

American informal: He finally forked over the cash he owed me.

Synonyms and how they differ

branching

Very close in meaning for roads and rivers, but 'branching' is more neutral and common in writing about plants and family trees.

dividing

More general; it can describe any split, while 'forking' suggests a Y-shaped split into separate routes.

splitting

Stronger and more sudden; use it when something breaks apart rather than simply separating into paths.

Opposites

Word family

fork noun

A tool for eating, or the place where a road or river divides.

forked adjective

Shaped like a fork or split into two parts: a forked tongue.

Commonly confused: forking or faking? forking or forging?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “forking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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