Phrase guide

fork over

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To turn over (soil, hay, etc.) with a gardening fork.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • I forked over half the allotment this morning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To pay, give up or hand over a large amount of money.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • Hundreds of spectators forked over the 70 bucks for tickets.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

to surrender someone or something to another

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the guard delivered the criminal to the police
  • render up the prisoners
  • render the town to the enemy
  • fork over the money

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hand over, fork out, fork up, turn in, deliver, render

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pass, hand, reach, pass on, turn over, give

Narrower terms: bail, give away

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: spitten — turn over soil with a gardening fork
  • Dutch: omspitten — turn over soil with a gardening fork
  • Polish: pielić — turn over soil with a gardening fork
  • Polish: wypielić — turn over soil with a gardening fork
  • Dutch: overhevelen — pay
  • French: casquer — pay
  • French: débourser — pay
  • French: cracher au bassinet — pay
  • Polish: bulić — pay
  • Polish: wybulić — pay
  • Polish: zabulić — pay
  • Russian: вы́ложить (výložitʹ) — pay