forehand

noun fore·hand \ ˈfȯr-ˌhand \

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Examples: forehand in a Sentence

Definition of forehand

1 archaic : superior position : advantage

2 : the part of a horse that is before the rider

3 : a forehand stroke (as in tennis or racquets); also : the side on which such strokes are made

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Examples of forehand in a Sentence

She hit a forehand across the court.

Recent Examples of forehand from the Web

When Isner’s final forehand sailed wide, Anderson could have been excused for doing cartwheels or at the very least multiple fist pumps on the grass.

— christopher clarey, New York Times, "Wimbledon: After Many, Many Hours, Kevin Anderson Beats John Isner in the Semifinals," 13 July 2018
With clubbing forehands, Nadal streaked ahead 4-0 in the second set and did the same in the third, before Gasquet finally held serve after a long fifth game.

— jerome pugmire, chicagotribune.com, "Rafael Nadal easily beats Richard Gasquet to reach 4th round at French Open," 2 June 2018
Early in Roddick’s career, his mammoth serve and forehand had commentators struggling to come up with historical comparisons.

— OregonLive.com, "Rafael Nadal's Grand Slam career is greater than Roger Federer's, or: The limits of data analysis," 22 Feb. 2018
Murphy, whose forehand slice down the line remains his ticket to pickleball paradise, finally gets to play.

— amy s. rosenberg, Philly.com, "Ocean City and the most cutthroat pickleball game at the Jersey Shore," 11 July 2018
In total, the eight-time champion lost just nine of 61 points on his serve and broke Lacko five times, including with a forehand winner to close out the match.

— USA TODAY, "Serena Williams breezes past Viktoriya Tomova into third round at Wimbledon," 4 July 2018
Djokovic slapped back a reckless forehand that, improbably, landed for a winner.

— zach baron, GQ, "In Praise of Being Washed," 2 July 2018
On break point in the ensuing game, with a short forehand and Williams out of position, Barty directed her shot at her opponent instead of putting it away down the line.

— ravi ubha, CNN, "Serena Williams pulls off huge comeback at French Open," 31 May 2018
Her main objective: Crush every forehand and backhand her coach sent her way.

— tom perrotta, WSJ, "The Key to Winning in Women’s Tennis: Create More Offense," 30 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'forehand.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of forehand

First Known Use of forehand

1557

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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forehand

adjective

Definition of forehand

1 obsolete : done or given in advance : prior

2 : made with the palm of the hand turned in the direction in which the hand is moving

a forehand tennis stroke

First Known Use of forehand

1599

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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forehand

adverb

Definition of forehand

: with a forehand stroke

First Known Use of forehand

1925

in the meaning defined above

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FOREHAND Defined for English Language Learners

forehand

noun

Definition of forehand for English Language Learners

sports : a way of hitting a ball in tennis and similar games in which the palm of the hand holding the racket is turned in the direction of the ball