ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ford

n. · v.
US //ˈfɔɹd// UK //fˈɔːd// ford
  1. 1 river crossing (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a shallow part of a river where people, animals, or vehicles can cross without a bridge.

    a shallow point in a watercourse where the substrate is sufficiently firm to allow crossing by foot or vehicle.

    Example

    The hikers found a shallow ford where they could safely cross the stream.

    Example

    Heavy rains had swollen the river, making the usual ford impassable for the local farmers and their livestock.
  2. 2 to cross water (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    to cross a river or stream by walking or driving through the water.

    to traverse a body of water by wading or driving through a shallow section. Transitive — takes a direct object.

    Example

    We had to ford the river because the nearest bridge was miles away.

    Example

    The expedition was forced to ford several icy tributaries before reaching the base of the mountain range.
Word family

Last updated June 19, 2026