# ford

/ˈfɔɹd/ (US) · /fˈɔːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ford
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. river crossing

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The hikers found a shallow ford where they could safely cross the stream.
- Heavy rains had swollen the river, making the usual ford impassable for the local farmers and their livestock.

### 2. to cross water

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- We had to ford the river because the nearest bridge was miles away.
- The expedition was forced to ford several icy tributaries before reaching the base of the mountain range.

## Examples

- The hikers crossed the river at a shallow ford.
- Heavy rains made the river rise so quickly that the local ford became impassable for small cars.
- Before the construction of the stone bridge, this ancient ford served as the primary crossing point for merchants traveling between the two mountain provinces.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.