ford
1 of 2noun
ˈfȯrd 
: a shallow part of a body of water that may be crossed by wading
ford
2 of 2verb
forded; fording; fords
transitive verb
: to cross (a body of water) by wading
fordable
ˈfȯr-də-bəl
adjective 
Synonyms
Noun
- shallow(s)
- shoal
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun didn't attempt getting the horses across the stream until we had reached the ford
Recent Examples on the Web
Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 22 July 2022 The Forest Service no longer installs a seasonal footbridge, so hikers can either ford the river or cross the large log at the main crossing. oregonlive, 30 July 2022 Dozens of motivational quotes tell us that is discomfort is where growth happens—I’ve repeated this platitude to my backpacking clients and friends while scrambling a ridgeline or taking off our hiking boots to ford an ice-cold river. Hannah Singleton, Outside Online, 31 Mar. 2022 The Jeep was compact enough to carry in gliders, could ford rivers with ease, and was extremely reliable. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 21 Sep. 2021 The OvrlandX concept could ford up to 32.1 inches of water. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 28 Aug. 2021 The 4xe comes ready to go off-road with a two-speed transfer case that enables full-time four-wheel drive, solid Dana 44 axles, 10.8 inches of clearance, and the ability to ford up to 30 inches of water. Colin Beresford, Car and Driver, 23 Dec. 2020 Jeep says there's a total of 13.3 inches of ground clearance and that the 392 can ford 34 inches of water, 4 inches more than a Rubicon. Scott Oldham, Car and Driver, 25 Sep. 2020 Two died: a 29-year-old Swiss woman who drowned in 2010 trying to ford the Teklanika and a 24-year-old Belarus woman last year who struggled to cross the rain-swollen river after spending two nights at the bus. Zaz Hollander, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Sep. 2020 See More
Verb
If the tide is less than 33.6 inches up your doors, this Wrangler can ford it. Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 22 July 2022 The Forest Service no longer installs a seasonal footbridge, so hikers can either ford the river or cross the large log at the main crossing. oregonlive, 30 July 2022 Dozens of motivational quotes tell us that is discomfort is where growth happens—I’ve repeated this platitude to my backpacking clients and friends while scrambling a ridgeline or taking off our hiking boots to ford an ice-cold river. Hannah Singleton, Outside Online, 31 Mar. 2022 The Jeep was compact enough to carry in gliders, could ford rivers with ease, and was extremely reliable. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 21 Sep. 2021 The OvrlandX concept could ford up to 32.1 inches of water. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 28 Aug. 2021 The 4xe comes ready to go off-road with a two-speed transfer case that enables full-time four-wheel drive, solid Dana 44 axles, 10.8 inches of clearance, and the ability to ford up to 30 inches of water. Colin Beresford, Car and Driver, 23 Dec. 2020 Jeep says there's a total of 13.3 inches of ground clearance and that the 392 can ford 34 inches of water, 4 inches more than a Rubicon. Scott Oldham, Car and Driver, 25 Sep. 2020 Two died: a 29-year-old Swiss woman who drowned in 2010 trying to ford the Teklanika and a 24-year-old Belarus woman last year who struggled to cross the rain-swollen river after spending two nights at the bus. Zaz Hollander, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Sep. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old Norse fjǫrthr fjord, Latin portus port, Old English faran to go — more at fare
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1614, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
ford 1 of 2
noun
ˈfȯrd
: a shallow place in a body of water that may be crossed by wading
ford
2 of 2verb
forded; fording
: to cross by wading
We had to ford a stream.
Biographical Definition
Ford 1 of 5
biographical name (1)
ˈfȯrd
Ford Mad*ox ˈma-dəks 1873–1939 originally Ford Hermann Hueffer ˈhü-fər
1873–1939 originally Ford Hermann Hueffer ˈhü-fər ˈ(h)we-fər
English author Ford
2 of 5biographical name (2)
Gerald R(udolph) 1913–2006 American politician; vice president of the U.S. (1973–74); 38th president of the U.S. (1974–77)
Ford
3 of 5biographical name (3)
Henry 1863–1947 American automobile manufacturer
Ford
4 of 5biographical name (4)
John 1586–?1639 English dramatist
Ford
5 of 5biographical name (5)
John 1895–1973 originally John Martin Feeney American film director
fords
noun
as in banks
a place where a body of water (as a sea or river) is shallow didn't attempt getting the horses across the stream until we had reached the ford Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- banks
- shoals
- shallows
- sandbars
- sandbanks
- bars
- towheads
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- trenches
- depths
- abysses
- deeps
- gulfs