forward

[ fawr-werd ]

/ ˈfɔr wərd /

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See synonyms for: forward / forwarded / forwarding on Thesaurus.com

adverb Also for·wards (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: The chest-high snow made forward motion almost impossible.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

ready, prompt, or eager.

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: He asked me to forward his mail while he’s in Japan.

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.

Verb Phrases

put forward. put (def. 31).

OTHER WORDS FOR forward

14 willing, earnest, zealous.

8 assuming, impudent.

10 early, preliminary, future, premature.

12 unconventional, progressive.

18 further, foster.

See synonyms for forward on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR forward

6 backward.

See antonyms for forward on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about forward

pay it forward. pay¹ (def. 34).

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

Origin of forward

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 FROM forward

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)

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH forward

foreword, forward , forwards, froward

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use forward in a sentence

It just feels like we’re always taking two steps forward and one back.
‘Can’t eat a gift card’: Rural food banks fight to put turkeys on the table|Kyle Swenson|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
I feel good about where I’m at, and where we’re at as a team and moving forward.
Cowboys QB Andy Dalton says covid-19 ‘hit me hard’ after concussion|Des Bieler|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
He said the number of victims was astonishing, not only because of how many people came forward, but because of how many others didn’t.
Boy Scouts must settle 95,000 abuse claims by next summer — or risk running out of cash|Samantha Schmidt|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
He said the outdoor portion of the event could probably go forward if guests wore masks and practiced social distancing, but balls and other indoor events could turn into superspreader events.
What will Inauguration Day look like amid a pandemic?|Emily Davies, Justin Jouvenal|November 19, 2020|Washington Post

Moving forward, they will rarely have to factor distance into those decisions.
Nationals have a new Class AAA affiliate in Rochester Red Wings|Jesse Dougherty|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
But an email dated July 10 from Ambassador King to Bennett (who then forwarded it to Lynton), says otherwise.
Exclusive: Sony Emails Say Studio Exec Picked Kim Jong-Un as the Villain of ‘The Interview’|William Boot|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Pascal then forwarded to email to Adam Sandler and his team.
Shocking New Reveals From Sony Hack: J. Law, Pitt, Clooney, and Star Wars|William Boot|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The journalist in London forwarded the warning to Alex, too, and he finally decided to go home.
Was U.S. Journalist Steven Sotloff a Marked Man?|Ben Taub|September 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Anyone trying the old number would be auto-forwarded to my new number.
Where Cellphone Numbers Go to Die|Jon Methven|August 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You always knew when someone fast-forwarded through one of your sketches on TiVo.
Bill Hader Is Sad to Leave ‘Saturday Night Live’ (and Stefon) Behind|Kevin Fallon|September 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If it is drawn on a bank outside, the check must be forwarded for presentment at the latest on the day after it is received.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
The same day, chance had it, he received word from her, forwarded from the Semiramis Hotel in Cairo.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
In due course indemnity claims were forwarded to the military authorities, who rejected them all.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
Some of the seed was sent to the collector of Kaira, who forwarded a sample of the tobacco grown from it.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
The quality is the best of the Philippines; it is all forwarded in leaf to the capital.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.

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 forms of forward

forwardly, 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

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.

forward

OTHER WORDS FOR forward

OPPOSITES FOR forward

Idioms about forward

Origin of forward

synonym study for forward

OTHER WORDS FROM forward

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH forward

Words related to forward

How to use forward in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for forward

Derived forms of forward

Word Origin for forward

Other Idioms and Phrases with forward