Illustration of fold
- fold 4a
folded; folding; folds
1
: to lay one part over another part of
fold a letter
2
: to reduce the length or bulk of by doubling over
fold a tent
3
: to clasp together : entwine
fold the hands
4
: to clasp or enwrap closely : embrace
folded the child in her arms
5
a
: to incorporate (a food ingredient) into a mixture by repeated gentle overturnings without stirring or beating
b
: to incorporate closely
All sorts of persons, places, and animals have been folded into this version of Tolstoy's vision …—
Phillip Hamburger
Phillip Hamburger
6
a
: to concede defeat by withdrawing (one's cards) from play (as in poker)
b
: to bring to an end
folded the business
7
: to bend (something, such as a layer of rock) into folds
1
: to become doubled or pleated
2
: to fail completely : collapse
especially : to go out of business
the newspaper folded
3
: to fold one's cards (as in poker)
1
: a part doubled or laid over another part : pleat
2
: a crease made by folding something (such as a newspaper)
3
: something that is folded together or that enfolds
4
a
: a bend or flexure produced in rock by forces operative after the depositing or consolidation of the rock
b
chiefly British : an undulation in the landscape
5
: a margin apparently formed by the doubling upon itself of a flat anatomical structure (such as a membrane)
1
a
: a group of people or institutions that share a common faith, belief, activity, or enthusiasm
His former colleagues would be glad to welcome him back into the fold.
b
: a flock of sheep
2
: an enclosure for sheep
1
: multiplied by (a specified number) : times
—in adjectives
a sixfold increase
and adverbs
repay you tenfold
2
: having (so many) parts
threefold aspect of the problem
Examples of fold in a Sentence
Noun (1) ready to welcome their old Liberal friend back into the fold Verb (2) fold the blanket so that it will fit inside the trunk the business folded after just two months Suffix It will repay you tenfold.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026 Since then, Blum, Clearing, and Tanya Bonakdar have all folded their tents and left the City of Angels. —News Desk, Artforum, 21 Apr. 2026
Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026 Restock towels in a spa-style fold. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fold
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The wings show camber on the outer sections and appear capable of folding for carrier operations. —Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026 Since then, Blum, Clearing, and Tanya Bonakdar have all folded their tents and left the City of Angels. —News Desk, Artforum, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
This can affect the breast fold, which is what happened to Fessler. —Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026 Restock towels in a spa-style fold. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fold
Cite this Entry
“Fold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/fold. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fold
1 of 5 noun
1
: a pen for sheep
2
: a group of people with a common faith or interest
fold
2 of 5 verb
: to shut up in a fold
fold
3 of 5 verb
1
: to lay one part over or against another part
fold a letter
birds folding their wings
2
: to clasp together
fold the hands
4
: to bend (as a layer of rock) into folds
5
: to add (a food ingredient) to a mixture by gently and repeatedly lifting one part over another
6
: to become doubled or pleated
7
: to fail completely
the business folded
fold
4 of 5 noun
1
: a doubling or folding over
2
: a part doubled or laid over another part
3
: a bend produced in rock
-fold
5 of 5 suffix
ˌfōld,
ˈfōld
1
: multiplied by (a specified number) : times
—in adjectives
a twelvefold increase
and adverbs
repay you tenfold
2
: having (so many) parts
a threefold problem
Etymology
Noun
Old English falod "pen for sheep"
Verb
Old English fealdan "to fold, make double thickness"
Suffix
Old English -feald (suffix) "being increased (so many) times"
Medical Definition
fold
1 of 2 intransitive verb
: to become doubled or pleated
fold
2 of 2 noun
: a margin apparently formed by the doubling upon itself of a flat anatomical structure (as a membrane)
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