forward

[ fawr-werd ]

/ ˈfɔr wərd /

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adverb Also forwards (for defs 1, 2)

toward or at a place, point, or time in advance; onward; ahead: to move forward; from this day forward; to look forward.

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

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

toward the bow or front of a vessel or aircraft.

ahead(defs 4, 5).

adjective

directed toward a point in advance; moving ahead; onward: a forward motion.

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

ready, prompt, or eager.

presumptuous, impertinent, or bold: a rude, forward child.

situated in the front or forepart: the forward part of the ship.

of or relating to the future; for the future or forward delivery: forward buying; a forward price.

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

radical or extreme, as persons or opinions: the forward trend in certain liberal thought.

standing out from others (sometimes used in combination):fashion-forward celebrities; an herb with a strong, forward flavor.

noun

Sports.

a player stationed in advance of others on a team.
Football. a lineman.
Basketball. either of two players stationed in the forecourt.

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

verb (used with object)

to send forward; transmit, especially to a new address: to forward a letter.

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

verb (used without object)

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.

Nearby words

forty-three, forty-two, fortyish, fortypenny, forum, forward, forward bias, forward delivery, forward echelon, forward exchange, forward heart failure

Origin of forward

before 900; Middle English; Old English for(e)weard. See fore¹, -ward

SYNONYMS FOR forward

8 willing, earnest, zealous.

9 assuming, impudent.

11 early, preliminary, future, premature.

13 unconventional, progressive.

18 further, foster.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR forward ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR forward

6 backward.

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Related forms

for·ward·a·ble, adjectivefor·ward·ly, adverbo·ver·for·ward, adjectiveo·ver·for·ward·ly, adverb

o·ver·for·ward·ness, nounre·for·ward, verb (used with object)

Can be confusedforeword forward forwards froward

Synonym study

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. 9. See bold.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for forward

His speeches, which he wrote himself, were frequently brilliant, even if they too often pointed backward instead of forward.
President Cuomo Would’ve Been a Lion|Jonathan Alter|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
You would only see it for a second, but it would drive you forward.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art|Alec Kubas-Meyer|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Lack of forward firing ordnance in a CAS supporting aircraft is a major handicap,” he added.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019|Dave Majumdar|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They are creative, investing a lot, and are forward thinking.
ISIS Has a Message. Do We?|Jamie Dettmer|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

With the rallying cries of these women propelling us forward, the time to move from rhetoric to reality is now.
Are We Listening to Syria’s Women and Girls?|David Miliband, Melanne Verveer|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Sal Kavannah seized him by the hand and dragged him forward.
Cleg Kelly, Arab of the City|S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett
On the contrary, I am speeding them forward with added watchfulness.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898|E. H. Blair
To-morrow morning we will come back to fetch the chariot: now, forward, march!
Captain Fracasse|Theophile Gautier
So forward, my lads, may your hearts never fail, You are cheer'd by the presence of a sweet Nightingale.
The Life of Florence Nightingale vol. 1 of 2|Edward Tyas Cook
This was handed to Charles with instructions to forward it to Tracy Park.
Gretchen|Mary J. Holmes

British Dictionary definitions for forward

forward

/ (ˈfɔːwəd) /

adjective

directed or moving ahead

lying or situated in or near the front part of something

presumptuous, pert, or impudenta forward remark

well developed or advanced, esp in physical, material, or intellectual growth or developmentforward ideas

archaic (often postpositive) ready, eager, or willing

of or relating to the future or favouring change; progressive
(in combination)forward-looking

finance realting to fulfilment at a future date

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

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

adverb

a variant of forwards

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

into prominence or a position of being subject to public scrutiny; out; forththe witness came forward

verb (tr)

to send forward or pass on to an ultimate destinationthe letter was forwarded from a previous address

to advance, help, or promoteto forward one's career

bookbinding to prepare (a book) for the finisher

Derived Formsforwardly, adverb

Word Origin for forward

Old English foreweard

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

Word Origin and History for forward (1 of 3)

forward

adv.

Old English forewearde "toward the front;" see fore + -ward. Adjectival sense of "early" is from 1520s; that of "presumptuous" is attested from 1560s.

Word Origin and History for forward (1 of 3)

forward

1590s, "to help push forward," from forward (adv.). Meaning "to send (a letter, etc.) on to another destination" is from 1757. Related: Forwarded; forwarding.

Word Origin and History for forward (2 of 3)

forward

Old English, "the fore or front part" of something; see forward (adv.). The position in football so called since 1879.

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.

forward

adverb Also forwards (for defs 1, 2)

adjective

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of forward

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for forward

British Dictionary definitions for forward

forward

adjective

noun

adverb

verb (tr)

Word Origin for forward

Word Origin and History for forward (1 of 3)

forward

Word Origin and History for forward (1 of 3)

forward

Word Origin and History for forward (2 of 3)

forward

Idioms and Phrases with forward

forward