To provide a forming method for a sheet material which enables reduction of forming load of the sheet material, reduction of risk of breakage even with a sheet material of large work-hardenability, and forming into a designated shape even with a sheet material susceptible to spring back.

Numbers of concavities 11, 12 are formed on the entire sheet material 10 to be plastically deformed during forming process except severe bend forming areas 13. When the sheet material 10 is inserted, pressed and plastically deformed between a punch and a die, the deformation is achieved by both material flow due to elongation of the severe bend forming area 13 and material flow from the area of concavities 11, 12. Thus, in the plastic deformation of the sheet material 10 during the forming process, elongation in the severe bend forming area 13 can be reduced and the load required for forming can also be reduced.