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Synonyms

come forward

British  

verb

  1. to offer one's services; volunteer

  2. to present oneself

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

come forward Idioms  
  1. Present oneself, offer one's services, as in The boss asked for more help, but no one was inclined to come forward. [Early 1800s]


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.

Switzerland’s unique model of “direct democracy” allows for proposals to be put forward through a referendum, which means fringe issues come forward more regularly than they do in other countries.

From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026

Police said the investigation was ongoing and urged residents who believe their pets have been stolen to come forward to help identify recovered animals.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026

But on Monday, Harris announced that a witness had come forward after the release of the video.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

“If you know something — anything — we beg you to come forward and give us closure.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

“No,” Gay said, “but if they hear about your case, they can still come forward and have their own.”

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

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