forthwith
Americanadverb
adverb
Etymology
Origin of forthwith
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at forth, with
Explanation
Forthwith is a old-fashioned, fancy way to say "immediately." An extremely obnoxious restaurant patron might demand, "Waiter, bring my soup forthwith!" You're most likely to find the word forthwith in a book or movie set in the past, or in a legal document. Either way, it means "without delay." If you're summoned to the principal's office forthwith, you probably shouldn't stop to chat with your friends on the way. The meaning of this adverb evolved from an earlier sense of "together" or "at the same time," as in "going forth with another person."
Vocabulary lists containing forthwith
Immediately
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Immediately
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Paradise
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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.
"His actions were illegal... He must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith," he wrote in his decision.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2025
“He shall be released forthwith, if not incarcerated in any other case,” the order concluded.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 3, 2024
He was 85 and said he found painting tiring; forthwith, he would devote his energies to drawing.
From New York Times ● Mar. 16, 2023
"We are therefore at liberty to exercise our right to withdraw our labour forthwith," Murithi Nyagah, the general secretary of KALPA, said in a statement.
From Reuters ● Nov. 4, 2022
He had to convince himself that liberating a silk sleigh and flying forthwith to the citadel was not a viable option.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
