forward

[ fawr-werd ]
See synonyms for: forwardforwardedforwarding on Thesaurus.com

adverbAlso for·wards (for defs. 1, 2)
  1. toward or at a place, point, or time in advance; onward; ahead: to move forward;from this day forward;to look forward.

  2. toward the front: Let's move forward so we can hear better.

  1. into view or consideration; out; forth: He brought forward several good suggestions.

  2. toward the bow or front of a vessel or aircraft.

adjective
  1. directed toward a point in advance; moving ahead; onward: The chest-high snow made forward motion almost impossible.

  2. being in a condition of advancement; well-advanced: It was quite forward in the season when we finished our planting.

  1. presumptuous, impertinent, or bold: That girl is a rude, forward child.

  2. situated in the front or forepart: The bow is the forward part of the ship.

  3. of or relating to the future; for the future or forward delivery: In August the hog packer was offering a forward price of $1.81/kg for hogs delivered in September.

  4. lying ahead or to the front: Take the forward path.

  5. radical or extreme, as persons or opinions: The group represents a forward trend in liberal thought.

  6. standing out from others (sometimes used in combination):These fashion-forward celebrities set the trends for the rest of us.Sage is an herb with a strong, forward flavor.

  7. ready, prompt, or eager.

noun
  1. Sports.

    • a player stationed in advance of others on a team.

    • Football. a lineman.

    • Basketball. either of two players stationed in the forecourt.

  2. Finance. something bought, as a security, for future delivery.

verb (used with object)
  1. to send forward; transmit, especially to a new address: He asked me to forward his mail while he’s in Japan.

  2. to advance or help onward; promote: The training will help to forward your career.

verb (used without object)
  1. to advance or play a cassette, digital recording, slide projector, etc., in the forward direction: Forward through the first few ballads to get to the dance tracks on this album.

Verb Phrases
  1. put forward. put (def. 31).

Idioms about forward

  1. pay it forward. pay1 (def. 34).

  2. put one's best foot forward. foot (def. 39).

Origin of forward

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English for(e)weard; see fore1, -ward

synonym study For forward

1. Forward, onward both indicate a direction toward the front or a movement in a frontward direction. Forward applies to any movement toward what is or is conceived to be the front or a goal: to face forward; to move forward in the aisles. Onward applies to any movement in continuance of a course: to march onward toward a goal. 8. See bold.

Other words for forward

Opposites for forward

Other words from forward

  • for·ward·a·ble, adjective
  • for·ward·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·for·ward, adjective
  • o·ver·for·ward·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·for·ward·ness, noun
  • re·for·ward, verb (used with object)

Words that may be confused with forward

Words Nearby forward

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use forward in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for forward

forward

/ (ˈfɔːwəd) /


adjective
  1. directed or moving ahead

  2. lying or situated in or near the front part of something

  1. presumptuous, pert, or impudent: a forward remark

  2. well developed or advanced, esp in physical, material, or intellectual growth or development: forward ideas

  3. archaic (often postpositive) ready, eager, or willing

    • of or relating to the future or favouring change; progressive

    • (in combination): forward-looking

  4. finance realting to fulfilment at a future date

  5. NZ (of an animal) in good condition

noun
    • an email that has been sent to one recipient and then forwarded to another

    • (in American football) a lineman

  1. an attacking player in any of various sports, such as soccer, hockey, or basketball

adverb
  1. a variant of forwards

  2. (ˈfɔːwəd, nautical history ˈfɒrəd) towards the front or bow of an aircraft or ship

  1. into prominence or a position of being subject to public scrutiny; out; forth: the witness came forward

verb(tr)
  1. to send forward or pass on to an ultimate destination: the letter was forwarded from a previous address

  2. to advance, help, or promote: to forward one's career

  1. bookbinding to prepare (a book) for the finisher

Origin of forward

1
Old English foreweard

Derived forms of forward

  • forwardly, adverb

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with forward

forward

see backward and forward; carry forward; come forward; from this day forward; know like a book (backwards and forwards); look forward; put forward; put one's best foot forward; set forward.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.