forward 1 of 3

1
as in forwards
toward or at a point lying in advance in space or time if you keep walking forward, you'll hit that wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in onwards
toward a point ahead in space or time from this day forward, our two nations will live in peace and harmony

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

forward

2 of 3

adjective

1
2
as in front
being at or in the forward part or surface of something the ship's forward deck

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4

forward

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb forward contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of forward are advance, further, and promote. While all these words mean "to help (someone or something) to move ahead," forward implies an impetus forcing something ahead.

a wage increase would forward productivity

Where would advance be a reasonable alternative to forward?

The words advance and forward are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, advance stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end.

advance the cause of peace

When is further a more appropriate choice than forward?

While the synonyms further and forward are close in meaning, further suggests a removing of obstacles in the way of a desired advance.

used the marriage to further his career

When could promote be used to replace forward?

While in some cases nearly identical to forward, promote suggests an encouraging or fostering and may denote an increase in status or rank.

a campaign to promote better health

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of forward
Adverb
Bringing forward the perspective of Haitians represents one way to both lessen the silences of the past and rectify the ongoing and harmful distortions of the present. Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025 But Powell wasn’t the only one who needed sign-off before The Running Man could move forward. Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Bennett Simmering’s second field goal of the game, this time from 31 yards out, gave the Irish a 20-9 lead midway through the fourth quarter, one play after an apparent Lakeville South fumble recovery was negated because officials said the runner’s forward progress had been stopped. Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025 To hear the full episode, subscribe through iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app (include the forward slashes when searching). Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
What Happens Next NCDHHS forwarded its recommendation and the corresponding information to the CMS regional office in Atlanta. Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025 Looming larger over the Current’s third defeat of the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League season was an injury to forward Temwa Chawinga, who went down — away from the ball — 23 minutes into the contest at Houston’s Shell Energy Stadium. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for forward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forward
Adverb
  • Captain Dominik Szoboszlai has been instrumental in midfield, driving attacks and creating chances for forwards Roland Sallai and Barnabas Varga.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Alan Shearer and Dennis Bergkamp, two of the most prominent Premier League forwards of the time, stood down from international duty after that tournament.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Devils’ broadcast team on MSG Network for Wednesday night included Minnesota native Rachel Herzog and retired goaltender Cory Schneider, who was very familiar to Wild fans a decade or so ago.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Elderly consumers, who might seek gentle relief for aches or the comfort of a familiar ritual, are left stranded.
    Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The focus was to provide more attacking numbers in advanced areas to maintain territorial dominance, with a midfield pair — or ‘double pivot’ — providing the defensive foundation behind a nominal front four.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The jeans still have two front pockets and two back pockets to stow your phone or other small items at the airport and beyond.
    Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Many chief financial officers are investing in AI while still taking a measured approach—one that may seem overly cautious from the perspective of chief information and technology officers.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Snow showers throughout the week; travelers advised to remain cautious due to potential slick conditions.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Ultimately, the moment encouraged the Soviet population to agitate for household comforts.
    Justin Worland, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Building a bat house can encourage them to stick around a little longer and eat up all those pesky insects.
    Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • From the 2000s onward, Yamada ventured into new territory with period films such as The Twilight Samurai (2002), which was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars; and The Hidden Blade (2004), which played in competition at Berlin International Film Festival.
    Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Aouli says this generational shift away full-bodied, rich, and higher-alcohol wines has been most noticeable in the past 12 to 18 months—and the softening in demand for Bordeaux is most noticeable with vintages from 2010 onwards.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Both of our co-founders, along with much of our leadership team, are proud Kentucky natives.
    Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
  • In photos from the show, the proud mom and aunt could be seen walking down the runway hand-in-hand with her two sons, while Zaya led the way in front of them.
    Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Using fractional diffusion theory, the research deepens understanding of transient charging behaviors in complex materials, which is key to designing high-performance components used for advanced engineering electrochemical systems in general.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The focus was to provide more attacking numbers in advanced areas to maintain territorial dominance, with a midfield pair — or ‘double pivot’ — providing the defensive foundation behind a nominal front four.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Forward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forward. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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