fast forward

¹ American  

[fast fawr-werd, fahst-] / ˈfæst ˈfɔr wərd, ˈfɑst- /

noun

1. a function of an audio or video recorder or player, as a cassette deck or DVR, that allows the content to be advanced rapidly.

2. the button or other control that activates this function.

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fast-forward ² American  

[fast-fawr-werd, fahst-] / ˈfæstˈfɔr wərd, ˈfɑst- /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to advance an audio or video recording rapidly.

   I always fast-forward through the TV ads that get recorded on my DVR.

2. to skip over a period of time and arrive at a future point in the timeline, especially in narration.

   Fast-forward six months, she’s gotten engaged and is moving to Europe!

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fast-forward British  

noun

1. (sometimes not hyphenated) the control on a tape deck or video recorder used to wind the tape or video forward at speed

2. informal a state of urgency or rapid progress

   my mind went into fast forward

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verb

1. (tr) to wind (a video or tape) forward using the fast-forward control

2. to deal with speedily

   fast-forward the trials of the new drug

3. (intr) to move forward through a tape or video using the fast-forward control

4. (usually foll by to) to direct one's attention towards a particular time or event, ignoring intervening material

   fast-forward to the summer of 2008

Etymology

Origin of fast-forward

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

"Fast forward two and a half years and we've shown that exactly what we had speculated is feasible in mice."

From Science Daily

Fast forward to the mid-2010s and he was working at the now-defunct Touch Vinyl in West L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

Fast forward 18 years, and we have Arsenal's disappointing 2-2 draw at Wolves on Wednesday.

From BBC

Fast forward to 2022, when the venture-capital industry hit a road bump, as I predicted it would in these pages.

From The Wall Street Journal

Fast forward to the early 90s and Cunnah was finding fame and fortune with his band D:Ream, which also featured Prof Brian Cox on keyboards long before he became renowned as a physicist and broadcaster.

From BBC