forward
Americanadverb
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toward or at a place, point, or time in advance; onward; ahead.
to move forward;
from this day forward;
to look forward.
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toward the front.
Let's move forward so we can hear better.
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into view or consideration; out; forth.
He brought forward several good suggestions.
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toward the bow or front of a vessel or aircraft.
adjective
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directed toward a point in advance; moving ahead; onward.
The chest-high snow made forward motion almost impossible.
- Antonyms:
- backward
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being in a condition of advancement; well-advanced.
It was quite forward in the season when we finished our planting.
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presumptuous, impertinent, or bold.
That girl is a rude, forward child.
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situated in the front or forepart.
The bow is the forward part of the ship.
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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.
- Synonyms:
- premature, future, preliminary, early
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lying ahead or to the front.
Take the forward path.
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radical or extreme, as persons or opinions.
The group represents a forward trend in liberal thought.
- Synonyms:
- progressive, unconventional
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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.
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ready, prompt, or eager.
noun
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Sports.
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a player stationed in advance of others on a team.
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Football. a lineman.
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Basketball. either of two players stationed in the forecourt.
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Finance. something bought, as a security, for future delivery.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb phrase
adjective
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directed or moving ahead
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lying or situated in or near the front part of something
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presumptuous, pert, or impudent
a forward remark
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well developed or advanced, esp in physical, material, or intellectual growth or development
forward ideas
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archaic (often postpositive) ready, eager, or willing
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of or relating to the future or favouring change; progressive
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( in combination )
forward-looking
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finance realting to fulfilment at a future date
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(of an animal) in good condition
noun
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an email that has been sent to one recipient and then forwarded to another
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(in American football) a lineman
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an attacking player in any of various sports, such as soccer, hockey, or basketball
adverb
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a variant of forwards
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towards the front or bow of an aircraft or ship
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into prominence or a position of being subject to public scrutiny; out; forth
the witness came forward
verb
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to send forward or pass on to an ultimate destination
the letter was forwarded from a previous address
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to advance, help, or promote
to forward one's career
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bookbinding to prepare (a book) for the finisher
Related Words
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. See bold.
Other Word Forms
- forwardable adjective
- forwardly adverb
- overforward adjective
- overforwardly adverb
- overforwardness noun
- reforward verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of forward
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English for(e)weard; fore 1, -ward
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.
“For now, this CPI reading offers a bit of good news,” Krimmel wrote, “but the path forward for the economy, the Fed, and the housing market remains highly data-dependent.”
From Barron's
The benefits are starting to show up in the company’s forward guidance.
From Barron's
The S&P 600 trades at 15 times forward earnings, a 30% discount to the S&P 500’s 22 times, suggesting undervaluation.
From Barron's
"Looking forwards, I do think we'll continue to have something of a gradual downward path... the calls do get closer."
From BBC
No evidence of intent to discriminate was shown; nor were factors other than race put forward to explain the map.
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.