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.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023
The living quarters feature an elegant main salon with a wet bar and a swanky forward dining area.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2023
Spider-Man 2 takes some bold swings in the service of forward motion.
—Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2023
The wings were designed to capture crosswinds to help provide forward propulsion, like a sail, along with electric motors or gasoline engines.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 18 Oct. 2023
The problem was the seeming inevitability of the juggernaut, the constancy of its forward motion, and the inefficacy of mere individuals in the face of such odds.
—Christopher Ketcham, Harper's Magazine, 16 Oct. 2023
The promise of a longer-looking neck may sound appealing to those with kyphosis, a forward curvature of the upper spine — casually known as a hunchback — but unfortunately, traptox is unlikely to make a difference in its appearance.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 25 Sep. 2023
By December, 2017, Luton was the highest-scoring team in the country—the forward James Collins finished the season with twenty-five goals—and subsequently earned another promotion.
—Simon Akam, The New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2023
This compressed air gets hot and in turn heats up the forward surface of the falling object.
—WIRED, 10 Nov. 2023
Joseph Farizo, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Greene said she was assured by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green that the process would move forward in committee.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 30 Nov. 2023
Others who faced lawsuits brought forward by the ASA include Steven Tyler, former Recording Academy CEO Neil Portnow, Anti-Flag singer Justin Geever (a.k.a.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 30 Nov. 2023
So that gets to continue forward, after this album cycle.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023
Cory Farmer, another member of the GCC Housing Team, said the Novak report is an excellent resource for moving the city’s housing department forward.
—Pitchfork, 30 Nov. 2023
The defense has claimed that authorities failed to properly evaluate his account before moving forward with misdemeanor charges.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 30 Nov. 2023
The 4-1 decision allows the La Mesa Police Department to move forward with a plan to purchase 20 cameras from Flock Safety to install throughout the city.
—Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2023
The night’s only blemish was a right knee injury suffered by reserve Norman Powell in the fourth quarter after he was run into by Kings forward Harrison Barnes.
—Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023
Maya Miller, ProPublica, 15 Nov. 2023
In accordance with company rules on media contacts — and the nondisclosure agreement every employee signs upon accepting a job at Facebook — several employees dutifully forwarded my message to Facebook’s PR team, and a couple of others sent me polite notes declining to speak.
—Jeff Horwitz, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2023
The Markup reached out to 24 consumers whose posts were forwarded to LAPD officers, and three people responded.
—Lam Thuy Vo, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2023
On Monday, Menendez seemed to swipe at those who are using his indictment to forward their political campaigns.
—Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2023
But based on surveillance video that Weinstein forwarded to The Post, the drivers appear to know one another given their interactions after the incident.
—Tim Carman, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023
WhatsApp has added more features, ranging from simple emoji reactions and message forwarding to disappearing messages and supporting the app across other devices, like Macs and Windows desktop computers.
—Mike Isaac, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2023
The case will later be forwarded to Howard County Prosecutor's Office to review investigators' findings.
—Emma Colton, Fox News, 18 Oct. 2023
From there, Plastiq will either mail your mortgage company a check or forward your payment via an ACH transfer on your behalf.
—Michelle Lambright Black, wsj.com, 18 Oct. 2023
Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2023
Pick a city, any city, on the National Basketball Association’s 30-team circuit, and Kelly Olynyk, a forward for the Utah Jazz, has deep knowledge of the local restaurant scene.
—Gerald Narciso, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023
Hermoso now plays as a forward for Mexican club Pachuca.
—Natalie Kainz, NBC News, 30 Oct. 2023
Osborne, a 6-1 senior forward, arrived from Mark Keppel High last season and became the Santa Fe League most valuable player, averaging 22.6 points.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2023
Jimmy Butler, a forward for the Miami Heat, has never been concerned with what anyone expects of him.
—Scott Cacciola, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2023
Kimbrough, a forward for the Sacramento Republic FC, came off the bench Sunday against the Las Vegas Lights in the USL Championship.
—Chelsea Hylton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2023
Dallas sent 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders north to participate, one of four NHL teams doing so.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023
Sardar Azmoun, a forward on the team, has been the most vocal champion of the uprising.
—Victoria Bisset, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2023
See More
Adjective
Unique design features include the rocker-style EVA midsole (for forward propulsion and high energy rebound) and the 3D TPU plate located under the forefoot for enhanced stability.
—Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023
The living quarters feature an elegant main salon with a wet bar and a swanky forward dining area.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2023
Spider-Man 2 takes some bold swings in the service of forward motion.
—Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2023
The wings were designed to capture crosswinds to help provide forward propulsion, like a sail, along with electric motors or gasoline engines.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 18 Oct. 2023
The problem was the seeming inevitability of the juggernaut, the constancy of its forward motion, and the inefficacy of mere individuals in the face of such odds.
—Christopher Ketcham, Harper's Magazine, 16 Oct. 2023
The promise of a longer-looking neck may sound appealing to those with kyphosis, a forward curvature of the upper spine — casually known as a hunchback — but unfortunately, traptox is unlikely to make a difference in its appearance.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 25 Sep. 2023
By December, 2017, Luton was the highest-scoring team in the country—the forward James Collins finished the season with twenty-five goals—and subsequently earned another promotion.
—Simon Akam, The New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2023
This compressed air gets hot and in turn heats up the forward surface of the falling object.
—WIRED, 10 Nov. 2023
Adverb
Right now, inflation and interest rates dominate headlines, and will continue to be impactful moving forward.
—Joseph Farizo, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Greene said she was assured by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green that the process would move forward in committee.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 30 Nov. 2023
Others who faced lawsuits brought forward by the ASA include Steven Tyler, former Recording Academy CEO Neil Portnow, Anti-Flag singer Justin Geever (a.k.a.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 30 Nov. 2023
So that gets to continue forward, after this album cycle.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023
Cory Farmer, another member of the GCC Housing Team, said the Novak report is an excellent resource for moving the city’s housing department forward.
—Pitchfork, 30 Nov. 2023
The defense has claimed that authorities failed to properly evaluate his account before moving forward with misdemeanor charges.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 30 Nov. 2023
The 4-1 decision allows the La Mesa Police Department to move forward with a plan to purchase 20 cameras from Flock Safety to install throughout the city.
—Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2023
The night’s only blemish was a right knee injury suffered by reserve Norman Powell in the fourth quarter after he was run into by Kings forward Harrison Barnes.
—Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023
Verb
When the national Blue Cross Blue Shield Association made an announcement about CAR-T coverage later in 2018, employees at Priority Health forwarded it to one another.
—Maya Miller, ProPublica, 15 Nov. 2023
In accordance with company rules on media contacts — and the nondisclosure agreement every employee signs upon accepting a job at Facebook — several employees dutifully forwarded my message to Facebook’s PR team, and a couple of others sent me polite notes declining to speak.
—Jeff Horwitz, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2023
The Markup reached out to 24 consumers whose posts were forwarded to LAPD officers, and three people responded.
—Lam Thuy Vo, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2023
On Monday, Menendez seemed to swipe at those who are using his indictment to forward their political campaigns.
—Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2023
But based on surveillance video that Weinstein forwarded to The Post, the drivers appear to know one another given their interactions after the incident.
—Tim Carman, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023
WhatsApp has added more features, ranging from simple emoji reactions and message forwarding to disappearing messages and supporting the app across other devices, like Macs and Windows desktop computers.
—Mike Isaac, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2023
The case will later be forwarded to Howard County Prosecutor's Office to review investigators' findings.
—Emma Colton, Fox News, 18 Oct. 2023
From there, Plastiq will either mail your mortgage company a check or forward your payment via an ACH transfer on your behalf.
—Michelle Lambright Black, wsj.com, 18 Oct. 2023
Noun
That will help workers install the tips of the rockets, known as the forward assembly, which includes the nose cone and forward skirt.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2023
Pick a city, any city, on the National Basketball Association’s 30-team circuit, and Kelly Olynyk, a forward for the Utah Jazz, has deep knowledge of the local restaurant scene.
—Gerald Narciso, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023
Hermoso now plays as a forward for Mexican club Pachuca.
—Natalie Kainz, NBC News, 30 Oct. 2023
Osborne, a 6-1 senior forward, arrived from Mark Keppel High last season and became the Santa Fe League most valuable player, averaging 22.6 points.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2023
Jimmy Butler, a forward for the Miami Heat, has never been concerned with what anyone expects of him.
—Scott Cacciola, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2023
Kimbrough, a forward for the Sacramento Republic FC, came off the bench Sunday against the Las Vegas Lights in the USL Championship.
—Chelsea Hylton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2023
Dallas sent 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders north to participate, one of four NHL teams doing so.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023
Sardar Azmoun, a forward on the team, has been the most vocal champion of the uprising.
—Victoria Bisset, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2023
See More
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.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective, Adverb, Verb, and Noun
Middle English, from Old English foreweard, from fore- + -weard -ward
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1879, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of forward was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing forward
Dictionary Entries Near forward
Cite this Entry
“Forward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forward. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
Legal Definition
forward
noun
for·ward
: forward contract at contract
More from Merriam-Webster on forward
Nglish: Translation of forward for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of forward for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share