forge

To make a false document or copy something dishonestly so that it seems real.

• Someone forged my signature.
• He was caught trying to forge a passport.
• The documents had been forged to hide the theft.

Similar words: fake, counterfeit, falsify

Common phrases: forge a signature, forge documents, forge a passport

To carefully develop or shape something, such as a friendship, through effort.

• They forged a close friendship.
• Shared difficulties helped the team forge strong bonds.
• She worked hard to forge an identity of her own.

Similar words: build, develop, create

Common phrases: forge a friendship, forge close ties, forge an identity, forge an alliance

To heat metal and hit it with tools to give it a shape.

• He learned to forge iron.
• The blacksmith forged a new horseshoe.
• These blades were forged by hand.

Common phrases: forge iron, forge a sword, forge steel

To move forward slowly and steadily, even when it is difficult.

• The boat forged through the waves.
• We forged ahead despite the deep snow.
• The explorers slowly forged forward through the dense forest.

How to use it: forge ahead (We forged ahead despite the wind.); forge through something (The ship forged through the rough sea.)

Similar words: advance, push forward

Opposites: retreat

Common phrases: forge ahead, forge forward, forge through something

A very hot fire or oven used to heat metal before shaping it.

• The metal glowed in the forge.
• He added coal to the forge before heating the iron.
• The blacksmith lifted the steel out of the forge.

Similar words: furnace, hearth

Common phrases: hot forge, coal forge, at the forge

A place where people heat metal and hit it with tools to shape it.

• The village forge has closed.
• She works in a forge making iron gates.
• We visited an old forge beside the river.

Similar words: smithy

Common phrases: village forge, old forge, in the forge