forward
FAW-wuhd
Forward (adj) means Located at or moving toward the front. Example: “The forward cabin has the best view.”
adj
1
Located at or moving toward the front.
"The forward cabin has the best view."
"She took a step forward to greet him."
"The forward section of the train was nearly empty this morning."
2
Bold or overly confident in manner, sometimes to the point of being pushy.
"He seemed a bit forward, asking for her number right away."
"I hope it wasn't too forward of me to ask for your help."
"The salesman was rather forward and kept interrupting her."
adv
1
Toward the front, or onward in time or progress.
"Please move forward to the next available seat."
"The project is finally moving forward after months of delay."
"She leaned forward to hear what the speaker was saying."
verb
1
To send something, such as an email or letter, on to someone else.
"Can you forward me that message from the client?"
"She forwarded the invitation to the whole team."
"Please forward the receipt to the accounts team when it arrives."
noun
1
In sports, a player positioned toward the front of the attack, such as in soccer or basketball.
"The team's star forward scored twice in the final."
"The coach moved him from defence to forward for the second half."
"A tall forward leapt up and headed the ball into the net."
How to use forward
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishToward the front, or ahead in time — also used for passing something along, or for an attacking sports player.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the adjective meaning "bold" (a forward remark) with the directional meaning (a forward step).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
forward email
move forward
look forward to
forward position
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Word forms
- Plural
- forwards
- Third person singular
- forwards
- Past tense
- forwarded
- Comparative
- further forward, farther forward, more forward, forwarder
- Superlative
- furthest forward, farthest forward, most forward, forwardmost, forwardest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ cabin has the best view.
Etymology
From Old English foreweard, combining fore- ("front") and -ward ("in the direction of").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for forward
See all rhymes for forward →Frequently asked questions
What does “forward” mean?
The word “forward” means located at or moving toward the front. In plain terms, toward the front, or ahead in time — also used for passing something along, or for an attacking sports player.
How do you pronounce “forward”?
“Forward” is pronounced FAW-wuhd (/ˈfɔɹwəɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “forward” in a sentence?
Here is “forward” used in a sentence: “The forward cabin has the best view.”
What is another word for “forward”?
Words with a similar meaning to “forward” include anterior, front and forwards.
What is the opposite of “forward”?
The opposite of “forward” — its antonyms — are back, posterior, rear, antonym(s) of and restrained.
What part of speech is “forward”?
Depending on how it is used, “forward” can be an adjective, an adverb, a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “forward” come from?
The word “forward” comes from Old English. From Old English foreweard, combining fore- ("front") and -ward ("in the direction of").
Is “forward” a common word?
“Forward” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the opposite of forward?
The opposite of forward is backward, which describes something located at or moving toward the rear rather than the front. Depending on context you might also use "rearward" or "reverse." For example, a forward step moves you ahead, while a backward step moves you back the way you came.
What is the difference between forward and forwards?
As an adjective, the word is always "forward" — you say "the forward cabin," never "forwards." The difference appears with the adverb: British English often uses "forwards" for movement ("step forwards"), while American English prefers "forward." As an adjective meaning toward the front, only "forward" is correct.
What is the difference between forward and foreword?
They sound alike but mean different things. "Forward" refers to position or movement toward the front, or sending something on. A "foreword," spelled with "-word," is a short introductory section at the front of a book, usually written by someone other than the author. Only "foreword" relates to writing.
What is an example of forward in a sentence?
You might say, "The pilot walked to the forward section of the plane," meaning the part nearest the front. Other examples include "the forward wheels of the car" or "a forward lunge in exercise." In each case, forward points to position at or motion toward the front.
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