forge

1.nounB2

Definition

a workplace with a fire that makes metal so hot it can be hammered and shaped into tools or other objects

Example

The old blacksmith spent all morning at his forge, shaping a set of iron gates.

collocation: at the forge

Visitors to the historical village watched how horseshoes were made at the forge.

Common collocations

at the forge
work at a forge
build a forge
set up a forge
forge fire

Synonyms

smithy
more traditional term for a blacksmith's workshop
furnace
focuses on the heating chamber rather than the whole workshop

Usage Note

This sense refers to the physical workspace or heating hearth of a blacksmith — not the act of metalworking, which uses the verb form.

1.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to make a fake copy of a document, signature, painting, or banknote in order to trick people into believing it is genuine

Example

The police arrested a group that tried to forge the director's signature on company cheques.

forge + signature / document

Cyrus discovered someone had forged his identity to get a bank loan.

forge + identity (collocation for identity theft)

Common collocations

forge a signature
forge a document
forge a passport
forge a banknote
forge a painting
forge a cheque
forge someone's identity

Synonyms

counterfeit
more specific to money and official documents
fake
more informal; can be used as verb ('to fake a signature')
falsify
often used for altering an existing document rather than creating a new fake one

Antonyms

authenticate
to prove something is genuine

Grammar Patterns

forge + object (signature / document / banknote)

Usage Note

Object is usually something written or printed: a signature, document, banknote, passport, painting. The focus is on deceiving others about authenticity.

Common Mistakes

He forged a new friendship at work.

He built a new friendship at work.

'forge' meaning 'create a bond' is sense 2, which is figurative; sense 1 is specifically about illegal copying.

2.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to develop or create something strong and lasting, such as a relationship, agreement, or career, through sustained effort and determination

Example

The two countries worked together to forge a peace agreement after years of conflict.

forge + a peace agreement / alliance / treaty

Trang managed to forge a successful career in journalism despite starting with no connections.

Common collocations

forge a relationship
forge an alliance
forge a bond
forge a partnership
forge a career
forge a path
forge an agreement
forge a connection

Synonyms

build
more general; less formal; can be used with the same abstract objects
establish
more formal; often used for institutions or systems
form
focuses on the beginning of a relationship or group
create
broader scope; 'forge' adds emotional weight of effort and durability

Antonyms

destroy
opposite in sense of breaking a relationship or agreement
dissolve
more formal; used for agreements or partnerships

Grammar Patterns

forge + object (relationship / alliance / career / bond)

Usage Note

Common in formal and journalistic contexts. The object is usually an abstract noun like alliance, relationship, bond, agreement, or path. Unlike sense 4 (metalworking), this sense has nothing to do with literal metal.

3.verbintransitiveC1

Definition

to suddenly move forward with increased speed or power, especially in a race or competitive situation

Example

On the final lap, Yuna forged ahead and took the lead.

forge ahead — sudden forward movement

The cyclist forged past her opponents on the last stretch of the mountain stage.

Common collocations

forge ahead
forge past
forge into the lead
forge forward

Synonyms

surge
can be used similarly but also works without a directional particle ('the crowd surged')
sprint
specific to running; implies the maximum possible speed
burst ahead
more informal; same meaning as 'forge ahead'

Antonyms

fall behind
to lose ground to competitors

Grammar Patterns

forge ahead

forge into + noun phrase

Usage Note

Nearly always used with 'ahead', 'past', or 'into the lead'. The subject is usually a person or vehicle in motion. Not used with objects — always intransitive.

4.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to change the form of metal through intense heat followed by hammering, as a blacksmith would do to create tools or decorative objects

Example

The artist forged a beautiful iron gate from a single bar of steel.

forge + object + from + material

Élise learned to forge knives from her grandfather, a trained blacksmith.

Common collocations

forge iron
forge steel
forge metal
forge a sword
forge a blade
forge a horseshoe
forge into shape
hammer and forge

Synonyms

hammer
focuses on the action of hitting more than the overall shaping process
beat into shape
describes the process more vividly; less technical
mold
used for softer materials like clay or plastic; not metalworking

Grammar Patterns

forge + object (metal / iron / steel) + into + shape

Usage Note

This is the original, literal meaning from which all other senses of 'forge' developed. The object is always metal, and the process involves heat and mechanical force. Distinguish from sense 2 (figurative creation) and sense 1 (counterfeiting).

Common Mistakes

She forged the clay into a bowl.

She shaped the clay into a bowl.

'forge' is only used for metal, not clay, wood, or other materials.

5.verbintransitiveC1

Definition

to keep advancing firmly and steadily despite difficulties, without giving up or slowing down

Example

Despite the heavy rain and thick mud, the hikers forged steadily up the mountain trail.

forge + adverb of direction (steadily up / on / ahead)

The research team forged ahead with their experiments even after the funding was cut.

forge ahead with [something] — continue despite difficulty

Common collocations

forge ahead
forge on
forge through
forge deeper into
forge steadily forward

Synonyms

press on
same sense of continuing despite difficulty; slightly less emphatic
push forward
includes both literal and figurative progress; common in business contexts
persevere
focuses on the mental determination rather than physical movement

Antonyms

give up
to stop trying entirely
fall back
to move backwards or retreat

Grammar Patterns

forge ahead

forge on

forge through + noun phrase

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 3 (SURGE AHEAD): sense 3 emphasizes a sudden burst of speed, while sense 5 emphasizes steady, determined progress over time. Often implies overcoming hardship.

Phrasal verbs

forge ahead

phrasal verb

To continue moving forward or making progress, especially despite difficulties.

Despite the heavy rain, the hikers forged ahead on the trail.

The company forged ahead with its expansion plans after the market recovered.

Word family

forger
nounB2
forgery
nounB2
forged
adjectiveB2
forging
nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All five words describe bringing something into existence, but 'forge' adds the nuance of sustained effort and durability — you forge something that will last. 'Build' is the most general and works in nearly any context ('build a house', 'build trust', 'build a team'). 'Establish' is more formal and emphasizes setting something up that is intended to be permanent ('establish a company', 'establish diplomatic ties'). 'Form' focuses on the initial coming-together of people or parts ('form a committee', 'form a habit'). 'Create' is the broadest, covering art, ideas, and physical objects. Use 'forge' when you want to highlight that something was achieved through difficulty and will endure: 'The two communities forged a lasting peace after decades of distrust.'

forge ↗build ↗establish ↗form ↗create ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

forge ahead
forge on
forge a path
forge into shape
forge a career

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'forge' entered English through Old French 'forge', which came from Latin 'fabrica', meaning 'workshop' or 'craft'. 'Fabrica' itself came from 'faber', meaning 'a maker or craftsman, especially a metalworker'. This is why the same Latin root also gave us 'fabric' and 'fabricate'. The verb meaning 'to counterfeit' (making an illegal copy) developed figuratively from the idea of 'shaping' or 'making' something, taking on a negative sense in the 17th century.

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forge

forge — noun

1. a workplace with a fire that makes metal so hot it can be hammered and shaped in

Usage Note

forge — verb

1. to make a fake copy of a document, signature, painting, or banknote in order to

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to develop or create something strong and lasting, such as a relationship, agree

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

3. to suddenly move forward with increased speed or power, especially in a race or

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

4. to change the form of metal through intense heat followed by hammering, as a bla

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

5. to keep advancing firmly and steadily despite difficulties, without giving up or

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

forge ahead

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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