forehand

[ fawr-hand, fohr- ]

/ ˈfɔrˌhænd, ˈfoʊr- /

Save This Word!

adjective

(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.Compare backhand (def. 5).

being in front or ahead.

foremost or leading.

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

noun

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

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

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

Archaic. a superior or advantageous position.

adverb

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

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of forehand

First recorded in 1535–45; fore- + hand

Words nearby forehand

foregoing, foregone, foregone conclusion, foreground, foregut, forehand, forehanded, forehead, forehearth, forehock, forehoof

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use forehand in a sentence

His finely crafted forehand is one of the most admired, examined and copied strokes in the sport’s history.
Farewell To Roger Federer — And His Formidable Forehand|Amy Lundy|September 23, 2022|FiveThirtyEight
Most players use a continental grip on their racket, but she uses an Eastern forehand grip for more power.
Serena Williams’s Once-In-A-Lifetime Serve|Amy Lundy|August 29, 2022|FiveThirtyEight
The 5-foot-9 Raducanu is a coolheaded problem solver on the court with a reliable forehand and strong retrieval skills.
At the U.S. Open, a pair of teen semifinalists breathes joyful life into women’s draw|Liz Clarke|September 9, 2021|Washington Post
It’s no secret that when Nadal serves, he immediately looks to follow with his left-handed forehand to inflict damage.
Rafael Nadal Dominates The Third Shot Of A Point|Amy Lundy|June 7, 2021|FiveThirtyEight

Especially, I think, for an American where it’s kind of more forehands and serve.
Aslan Karatsev is the latest qualifier to go from unknown to Grand Slam party crasher|Chuck Culpepper|February 17, 2021|Washington Post
But on match point Nadal nailed an up-the-line forehand that landed close to the line and was called in.
10 Things to Watch at the 2013 U.S. Open|Nicholas McCarvel|August 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He returns the robot attacks with the flashing forehand acknowledged in the 1950s as the world's fastest.
Marty Reisman: The Magical Hustler Who Saved a Classic Game|Harold Evans|December 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
“Federer revolutionized tennis when he weaponized the ultimate forehand stroke,” Dent says.
How to Play a Tennis Monster|Sujay Kumar|September 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Or nailing a whizzing forehand exactly at the right moment to leave his opponent dumbfounded across the net.
Why Andy Roddick Had to Quit Tennis|Nicholas McCarvel|August 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He has developed every facet of his game, beyond his trademark forehand.
Tennis' Next Greatest Player Who Ever Lived|Joshua Robinson|September 14, 2010|DAILY BEAST
He made a desperate effort to get up, but could only raise his forehand.
Servants of the Guns|Jeffery E. Jeffery
Mr. Goodfellow tapped his forehand with the end of his two-foot rule.
Poison Island|Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch (Q)
He should have a moderately high forehand, be firm and flexible in all his movements, and be at least 20 lb.
Riding for Ladies|Mrs. Power O'Donoghue
I would suggest that we go through the forehand and backhand strokes to make certain that we are right.
The Meadow-Brook Girls on the Tennis Courts|Janet Aldridge
He next threw the iron-sheathed gold-bedecked coats of mail over his horses, so that they covered them from forehead to forehand.
The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tin B Calnge|Unknown

British Dictionary definitions for forehand

forehand

/ (ˈfɔːˌhænd) /

adjective (prenominal)

sport

(of a stroke) made with the racket held so that the wrist is facing the direction of the stroke
of or relating to the right side of a right-handed player or the left side of a left-handed player

foremost or paramount

done or given beforehand

noun

sport

a forehand stroke
the side on which such strokes are made

the part of a horse in front of the saddle

a frontal position

adverb

sport with a forehand stroke

verb

sport to play (a shot) forehand

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