Illustration of forehand
- forehand 3
fore·hand
ˈfȯr-ˌhand 
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
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
: with a forehand stroke
Examples of forehand in a Sentence
Noun
She hit a forehand across the court.
Recent Examples on the Web
Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Then the Italian broke right back in the fifth, when what should have a been an easy forehand winner from Fonseca sailed wide right.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Joe Rao, Space.com, 24 Dec. 2024
Zheng’s forehand response to Sabalenka’s forehand was often late, and there were times when Sabalenka’s inside-out forehand to Zheng’s backhand seemed to knock the racquet from her grip.
—Gerald Marzorati, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2024
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Noun
And then, after Nakashima sent a first serve back into the middle with good depth, slightly tucking the Spaniard up, Alcaraz shuffled backward and detonated an inside-in forehand to win the match.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Then the Italian broke right back in the fifth, when what should have a been an easy forehand winner from Fonseca sailed wide right.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Uranus Uranus can be glimpsed as a naked-eye object by people who are blessed with good eyesight and a clear, dark sky, as well as a forehand knowledge of exactly where to look for it.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 24 Dec. 2024
Zheng’s forehand response to Sabalenka’s forehand was often late, and there were times when Sabalenka’s inside-out forehand to Zheng’s backhand seemed to knock the racquet from her grip.
—Gerald Marzorati, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for forehand
Cite this Entry
“Forehand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forehand. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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