forehand

[fawr-hand, fohr-]

adjective

1. (in tennis, squash, etc.) of, relating to, or noting a stroke made from the same side of the body as that of the hand holding the racket, paddle, etc.

2. being in front or ahead.

3. foremost or leading.

4. done beforehand; given or made in advance, as a payment.

noun

1. (in tennis, squash, etc.) a forehand stroke.

2. the part of a horse that is in front of the rider.

3. Cards.,  the player on the dealer's left, in a game with three players.

4. Archaic.,  a superior or advantageous position.

adverb

1. (in tennis, squash, etc.) with a forehand stroke.

forehand

/ ˈfɔːˌhænd /

adjective

1. sport

   1. (of a stroke) made with the racket held so that the wrist is facing the direction of the stroke

   2. of or relating to the right side of a right-handed player or the left side of a left-handed player

2. foremost or paramount

3. done or given beforehand

noun

1. sport

   1. a forehand stroke

   2. the side on which such strokes are made

2. the part of a horse in front of the saddle

3. a frontal position

adverb

1. sport with a forehand stroke

verb

1. sport to play (a shot) forehand

Word History and Origins

Origin of forehand¹

First recorded in 1535–45; fore- + hand

Example Sentences

There were moments when he used his forehand to outpace Sinner, but they were few and far between.

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Some brutal hitting with his forehand brought up the first break point of the second set for Fritz in the fifth game, but Alcaraz came out on top in a dramatic rally to save it.

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As Alexandrova's serve faltered, Rybakina stepped up a gear and she doubled her advantage with a brutal forehand winner on break point, only to immediately lose one of her breaks when serving for the match.

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Raducanu grabbed at her back early in the third set after running for a forehand, and she made more errors as the match went on.

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Sabalenka, who has crushed topspin forehands harder than the top men at this tournament, was on her way.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal