forthwith
Americanadverb
adverb
Etymology
Origin of forthwith
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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Most Ardently
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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
"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
In magical happy justice land, this will suffice to remind her that his mistreating her is not okay, and she will break up with him forthwith and forever.
From Washington Post • Jan. 24, 2022
The goddess went forthwith to the hut where the maiden lived and challenged her to a contest.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Definitions 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.
