ford: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Literary, Technical (geography/hydrology), Brand/Trademark
Quick answer
What does “ford” mean?
A shallow place in a river or stream where one can cross by wading or in a vehicle.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A shallow place in a river or stream where one can cross by wading or in a vehicle.
To cross a river or stream at a shallow point, especially by wading or driving. Also, a common brand name for automobiles.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Geographical use is identical. In the UK, 'Ford' as a place name suffix (e.g., Oxford, Stafford) is extremely common, reinforcing the archaic/historical sense. American usage may more immediately evoke the car brand.
Connotations
UK: Strongly historical/rural, associated with ancient roads and place names. US: More likely to be recognized first as a car brand, though the geographical term is known.
Frequency
As a common noun/verb, low frequency in both varieties. The brand name 'Ford' is high frequency globally.
Grammar
How to Use “ford” in a Sentence
[Subject] ford [Object (river/stream)][Vehicle/Person] is able to ford [Location]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ford” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Land Rover was robust enough to ford the swollen stream.
- Walkers are advised not to attempt to ford the river after heavy rain.
American English
- The jeep forded the creek easily.
- Pioneers had to ford many rivers on their journey west.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Exclusively refers to Ford Motor Company.
Academic
Used in historical texts, geography, and hydrology to describe natural crossing points.
Everyday
Rare; mostly understood as the car brand. The verb/noun might appear in hiking guides or historical novels.
Technical
In geography, a precise term for a natural, shallow river crossing.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ford”
- Using 'ford' as a general synonym for 'cross' (only for shallow water). Confusing 'ford' (n.) with 'ford' (v.) contextually. Misspelling as 'forth' or 'forward'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can be used for any stream or body of water shallow enough to wade or drive across.
Indirectly. The company is named after its founder, Henry Ford, whose surname likely originated from someone who lived near a ford.
A ford is a natural shallow part of the riverbed used for crossing. A bridge is a built structure over the water.
Yes, but it's specialized. It's common in off-roading, hiking, historical writing, and geography. In everyday talk, 'Ford' is almost always the car brand.
A shallow place in a river or stream where one can cross by wading or in a vehicle.
Ford is usually formal/literary, technical (geography/hydrology), brand/trademark in register.
Ford: in British English it is pronounced /fɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɔːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “['Fording the stream' - undertaking a basic, sometimes risky, challenge]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FORD car DRIVING across a shallow RIVER. The word 'ford' is IN the word 'afFORD' - you can afford to cross here because you don't need a boat or bridge.
Conceptual Metaphor
CROSSING A DIFFICULTY IS FORDING A RIVER (e.g., 'He carefully forded the complex legal issues').
Practice
Quiz
What is the PRIMARY meaning of the verb 'to ford'?