forth

1 of 2

adverb

ˈfȯrth 

1

: onward in time, place, or order : forward

from that day forth

2

: out into notice or view

put forth leaves

lava bursting forth from the volcano

3

obsolete : away, abroad

forth

2 of 2

preposition

archaic

: forth from : out of

Synonyms

Adverb

• ahead
• forward
• on
• onward
• onwards

Examples of forth in a Sentence

Adverb

a flow of lava bursting forth from the earth

The snow is gone and the flowers are ready to spring forth.

He went forth to spread the news.

She stretched forth her hands in prayer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon have gone back and forth between closing and opening airspace as Israel and Iran exchange fire. —Arkansas Online, 22 June 2025

Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank multiple candidates in order of their preference, putting their preferred choices first, then second, then third and so forth. —Callum Sutherland, Time, 20 June 2025

Preposition

Oddly enough, a different kind of neutrino, called a tau neutrino, is one hypothesis that some scientists have put forth as the cause of the anomalous signals. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 June 2025

Under Johnson, Carney also helped move ahead a long-running idea to revamp north DuSable Lake Shore Drive, although the plan put forth by the Illinois and Chicago departments of transportation is still likely years away from fruition. —Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adverb and Preposition

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old English for

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

circa 1575, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing forth

• and so forth
• back and forth
• bring forth
• call forth
• forth of
• from that day forth
• from that day forth/forward
• hold forth
• put forth
• sally forth
• send forth
• set forth

Rhymes for forth

• fourth
• henceforth
• thenceforth

Kids Definition

forth

adverb

ˈfō(ə)rth,

ˈfȯ(ə)rth

1

: forward entry 2, onward

from that time forth

back and forth

2

: out into view

plants putting forth leaves

Geographical Definition

Forth

geographical name

ˈfȯrth 

river 116 miles (187 kilometers) long in south central Scotland flowing east into the Firth of Forth, an estuary 48 miles (77 kilometers) long that is an inlet of the North Sea