forth
1 Americanadverb
-
onward or outward in place or space; forward.
to come forth; go forth.
-
onward in time, in order, or in a series.
from that day forth.
-
out, as from concealment or inaction; into view or consideration.
The author's true point comes forth midway through the book.
-
away, as from a place or country.
to journey forth.
preposition
noun
-
Firth of, an arm of the North Sea, in SE Scotland: estuary of Forth River. 48 miles (77 km) long.
-
a river in S central Scotland, flowing E into the Firth of Forth. 116 miles (187 km) long.
adverb
-
forward in place, time, order, or degree
-
out, as from concealment, seclusion, or inaction
-
away, as from a place or country
-
and so on; et cetera
preposition
noun
-
an inlet of the North Sea in SE Scotland: spanned by a cantilever railway bridge 1600 m (almost exactly 1 mile) long (1889), and by a road bridge (1964)
-
a river in S Scotland, flowing generally east to the Firth of Forth. Length: about 104 km (65 miles)
Etymology
Origin of forth
before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with German fort; akin to further
Explanation
Forth means "from now on." If you declare that from today forth, you'll pursue your dream of becoming a rodeo clown, it means you'll work every day to make it happen. The adverb forth describes pushing forward, either literally or in time. When something goes forth, it moves into view or forward. In spring, flowers shoot forth from the ground. You have probably heard the expression and so forth, which like and so on means whatever else. Don't confuse forth with fourth, which sounds the same but means "number four in a series."
Vocabulary lists containing forth
"Growing Together" and "When I Grow Up"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Spelling Practice 1, Unit 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
You do not have to pass a security check when you pass back and forth between L.A. and Orange County.
From Slate • Jun. 9, 2026
The driverless trucks perform best when they shuttle back and forth in repetitive trips—for instance, a 14-mile trip between a Gatorade bottling plant and storage facility.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
Our homes are 20 miles apart, and he still drives back and forth almost daily.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026
During his trip to Scotland the couple had been texting back and forth with day-long gaps due to the time difference.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
The spirits that Leah had called forth blessed her with abundance.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.