forehand

American  

[fawr-hand, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌhænd, ˈfoʊr- /

adjective

1. (in tennis, squash, etc.) of, relating to, or noting a stroke made from the same side of the body as that of the hand holding the racket, paddle, etc.

2. being in front or ahead.

3. foremost or leading.

4. done beforehand; given or made in advance, as a payment.

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noun

forehands plural

1. (in tennis, squash, etc.) a forehand stroke.

2. the part of a horse that is in front of the rider.

3. Cards. the player on the dealer's left, in a game with three players.

4. Archaic. a superior or advantageous position.

adverb

1. (in tennis, squash, etc.) with a forehand stroke.

forehand British  

/ ˈfɔːˌhænd /

adjective

1. sport

   1. (of a stroke) made with the racket held so that the wrist is facing the direction of the stroke

   2. of or relating to the right side of a right-handed player or the left side of a left-handed player

2. foremost or paramount

3. done or given beforehand

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noun

1. sport

   1. a forehand stroke

   2. the side on which such strokes are made

2. the part of a horse in front of the saddle

3. a frontal position

adverb

1. sport with a forehand stroke

verb

1. sport to play (a shot) forehand

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• forehands
  plural

Etymology

Origin of forehand

First recorded in 1535–45; fore- + hand

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

forehand forehands

And when Coach Chessa Mehlman asks a young player to show off his forehand, he sits on the racket.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

Her ball toss went awry, her footwork was a step slower, and she was more agitated, at one point screaming in frustration after a netted forehand.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

With a cross-court forehand from Gauff threatening to fizz straight past her, the Czech player stretched out, leapt into the air and put away the volley winner before falling face down on the grass.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

But Muchova dusted herself down to fight again, bringing up her second match point by sending Gauff wide before slamming home an inside-out forehand winner into the corner.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

I tried hitting one backhand; the stroke was horrible; I returned to only whacking my forehand, my best stroke.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

As Sinner looked to secure the opening set against Lehecka, he twice dispatched first serves from the Czech with crushing cross-court forehands.

From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2026

The battle went down to the wire and it was a few mistimed forehands from Gauff that gave Svitolina the opening in the last game to complete an emotional victory.

From Barron's ● Feb. 20, 2026

Sabalenka, who has crushed topspin forehands harder than the top men at this tournament, was on her way.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2025

Watching Smith lob verbal grenades with her co-star Margaret Tyzack was like watching Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova trade forehands at Wimbledon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2024

Most horses will swing their forehands with some readiness, if not in a well-balanced manner.

From Patroclus and Penelope A Chat in the Saddle by Dodge, Theodore Ayrault