1
a
: near, being at, or belonging to the forepart
the forward section of the main deck
b
: situated in advance
Baggage is carried in the forward cars of the train.
2
3
: notably advanced or developed : precocious
The child is very forward at walking.
4
: moving, tending, or leading toward a position in front
checked the forward movement of the dog
also
: moving toward an opponent's goal
5
6
: of, relating to, or getting ready for the future
forward buying of produce
forwardly
adverb
forwardness
noun
: to or toward what is ahead or in front
from that time forward
moved slowly forward
forwarded; forwarding; forwards
: a player who plays at the front the team's formation near the opponent's goal
a forward in hockey
Synonyms
Examples of forward in a Sentence
Adjective
the forward deck of a boat
the forward movement of history
a very forward young woman
Adverb
Her long hair fell forward as she bent to tie her shoes.
He pushed the throttle forward.
She took a small step forward.
The narrative moves backward and forward in time.
The technology has taken a big step forward.
Verb
Your letter will be forwarded to the appropriate department.
Please forward my mail to my new address.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
In a recent note to investors, Scott Devitt of Wedbush Securities, while keeping his outperform rating on Meta, raised his price target to $570 from $520, while also noting that Meta provided notably strong forward guidance for Q1.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
With a market capitalization of $601 million, the stock trades with a forward price-earnings ratio of 7.52 and at 53% of its book value.
—John Navin, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Eight, nine or 10 forward gears is pretty commonplace at this point.
—Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
State, the 10th seed in its own conference tournament, pulled off five consecutive wins in the ACC Tournament followed by four consecutive wins in the NCAA Tournament behind dazzling efforts from senior forward DJ Burns.
—NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
At 59 times forward earnings, Tesla’s the most expensive member of the Magnificent 7 group of big tech companies.
—Esha Day, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024
And when the yacht is under way, that forward pool is drained and becomes a garage for the yacht’s 16-foot Nautica RIB.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024
The forward section of the armrest has a sliding cover that exposes cupholders, a wireless charger, and another pair of USB-C ports.
—Tim Stevens, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2024
James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024
None of the college experts interviewed this week by the Bay Area News Group have any doubt that Bennett will keep the Gaels competitive moving forward.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2024
As tobacco revenue declines and pandemic relief funds expire, funding falls
As First Things First's main revenue source declines and federal pandemic relief funds expire, even fewer children will receive preschool scholarships moving forward.
—The Arizona Republic, 26 Apr. 2024
The conviction was later overturned and Fernandez Rundle’s office chose not to move forward with another trial.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
Tosti-Kharas adds that listening to what employees want, and heeding their demands, will be a big piece of the puzzle moving forward.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
Democratic leaders in Maine are threatening to eliminate the state's split-vote system for allocating Electoral College delegates if Nebraska Republicans move forward with their plan to do the same.
—Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2024
Smith’s best hope, though, may be to move forward quickly with allegations that both sides agree involve Trump’s unofficial acts.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2024
However, as part of his bond agreement, her husband must remain on the island and check in every Tuesday and Thursday at the Grace Bay Police Station while his case moves forward.
—Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2024
Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
To exercise their Rights, Common Stockholders who hold their Common Stock through a broker, custodian, or trust company, should contact such entity to forward their instructions to either exercise or sell their Rights on their behalf.
—Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
The bridge would need to receive and process some 30,000 packets per second (15,000 pp/s per Ethernet) and decide whether to forward each one.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Apr. 2024
Continue reading here… Don’t forget to forward this to a friend or check out our other newsletters.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024
The law requires that any such presidential correspondence be forwarded to an official account for preservation.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
Most providers today want to forward claim applications as quickly as possible but this effort could easily lead their staffers to make errors such as filing duplicate claims for the same patient, entering incorrect insurance ID numbers, or providing incomplete patient information.
—Shashank Agarwal, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Rhodes then forwarded the same letter to KBI Director Tony Mattivi on Monday afternoon.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
In addition to publishing findings and analysis, the groups also forwarded potentially harmful disinformation to platforms for review.
—Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 23 Mar. 2024
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Four-star forward Karter Knox, 6-6, 211 of Riverview, (Fla.) Overtime Elite is also rated a 5-star by Rivals.
—Richard Davenport, arkansasonline.com, 8 Apr. 2024
But that’s not what has impressed Quinn the most about the forward’s play of late.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024
One of those workers impressed by the pay raise was Cade Haskins, a junior majoring in politics, philosophy and economics who, in addition to his job at a campus snack bar, is a forward on the basketball team.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024
If the Sharks opted to go with a forward with that Penguins pick, centers Cayden Lindstrom, and Tij Iginla could both still be on the board.
Lindstrom, ranked the third-best North American skater by Central Scouting, is a manchild with Medicine Hat of the WHL at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024
While his output – even at AFC Ajax – has never been enormously fruitful, Antony’s current stats are diabolical for a wide forward.
—Liam Canning, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
While fans will want to see more assists and goals to his tally – five so far this season in 35 appearances – his output is generally enticing for the forwards to attack.
—Liam Canning, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Maybe paired with Redondo, Busquets could do his thing and let younger legs chase down speedy wingers and forwards.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Want an example of just how valuable the Florida Panthers’ forward depth will be for their playoff run?
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
In a recent note to investors, Scott Devitt of Wedbush Securities, while keeping his outperform rating on Meta, raised his price target to $570 from $520, while also noting that Meta provided notably strong forward guidance for Q1.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
With a market capitalization of $601 million, the stock trades with a forward price-earnings ratio of 7.52 and at 53% of its book value.
—John Navin, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Eight, nine or 10 forward gears is pretty commonplace at this point.
—Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
State, the 10th seed in its own conference tournament, pulled off five consecutive wins in the ACC Tournament followed by four consecutive wins in the NCAA Tournament behind dazzling efforts from senior forward DJ Burns.
—NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
At 59 times forward earnings, Tesla’s the most expensive member of the Magnificent 7 group of big tech companies.
—Esha Day, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024
And when the yacht is under way, that forward pool is drained and becomes a garage for the yacht’s 16-foot Nautica RIB.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024
The forward section of the armrest has a sliding cover that exposes cupholders, a wireless charger, and another pair of USB-C ports.
—Tim Stevens, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Sorkin was previously working on a Jan. 6 script that ultimately did not move forward.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024
None of the college experts interviewed this week by the Bay Area News Group have any doubt that Bennett will keep the Gaels competitive moving forward.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2024
As tobacco revenue declines and pandemic relief funds expire, funding falls
As First Things First's main revenue source declines and federal pandemic relief funds expire, even fewer children will receive preschool scholarships moving forward.
—The Arizona Republic, 26 Apr. 2024
The conviction was later overturned and Fernandez Rundle’s office chose not to move forward with another trial.
—Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
Tosti-Kharas adds that listening to what employees want, and heeding their demands, will be a big piece of the puzzle moving forward.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
Democratic leaders in Maine are threatening to eliminate the state's split-vote system for allocating Electoral College delegates if Nebraska Republicans move forward with their plan to do the same.
—Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2024
Smith’s best hope, though, may be to move forward quickly with allegations that both sides agree involve Trump’s unofficial acts.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2024
However, as part of his bond agreement, her husband must remain on the island and check in every Tuesday and Thursday at the Grace Bay Police Station while his case moves forward.
—Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2024
Verb
All information on the case will be forwarded to the Hardin County Attorney’s Office for review of potential charges.
—Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
To exercise their Rights, Common Stockholders who hold their Common Stock through a broker, custodian, or trust company, should contact such entity to forward their instructions to either exercise or sell their Rights on their behalf.
—Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
The bridge would need to receive and process some 30,000 packets per second (15,000 pp/s per Ethernet) and decide whether to forward each one.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Apr. 2024
Continue reading here… Don’t forget to forward this to a friend or check out our other newsletters.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024
The law requires that any such presidential correspondence be forwarded to an official account for preservation.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
Most providers today want to forward claim applications as quickly as possible but this effort could easily lead their staffers to make errors such as filing duplicate claims for the same patient, entering incorrect insurance ID numbers, or providing incomplete patient information.
—Shashank Agarwal, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Rhodes then forwarded the same letter to KBI Director Tony Mattivi on Monday afternoon.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
In addition to publishing findings and analysis, the groups also forwarded potentially harmful disinformation to platforms for review.
—Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 23 Mar. 2024
Noun
Love, a senior forward, scored Colleyville Heritage’s final goal of the contest with 30 minutes remaining.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024
Four-star forward Karter Knox, 6-6, 211 of Riverview, (Fla.) Overtime Elite is also rated a 5-star by Rivals.
—Richard Davenport, arkansasonline.com, 8 Apr. 2024
But that’s not what has impressed Quinn the most about the forward’s play of late.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024
One of those workers impressed by the pay raise was Cade Haskins, a junior majoring in politics, philosophy and economics who, in addition to his job at a campus snack bar, is a forward on the basketball team.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024
If the Sharks opted to go with a forward with that Penguins pick, centers Cayden Lindstrom, and Tij Iginla could both still be on the board.
Lindstrom, ranked the third-best North American skater by Central Scouting, is a manchild with Medicine Hat of the WHL at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024
While his output – even at AFC Ajax – has never been enormously fruitful, Antony’s current stats are diabolical for a wide forward.
—Liam Canning, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
While fans will want to see more assists and goals to his tally – five so far this season in 35 appearances – his output is generally enticing for the forwards to attack.
—Liam Canning, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Maybe paired with Redondo, Busquets could do his thing and let younger legs chase down speedy wingers and forwards.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forward.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near forward
Cite this Entry
“Forward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forward. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
forward
1 of 4 adjective
for·ward
ˈfȯr-wərd 
1
: near, being at, or belonging to the front part
2
: lacking proper modesty or reserve
3
: moving, tending, or leading to a position in front
forwardly
adverb
forwardness
noun
forward
2 of 4 adverb
: to or toward what is in front
forward
3 of 4 verb1
: to help onward
forward a friend's career
2
: to send on or forward
forward a letter
forward
4 of 4 noun
: a player who plays at the front of the team near the opponent's goal
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