# forward

Pronunciation: US say "FAWR-wurd" /ˈfɔɹwəɹd/; UK say "FAW-wuhd" /ˈfɔːwəd/

## Adverb

1. In the direction one is facing or traveling; onward, literally or in progress.
   - Simple: Toward the front or ahead, in the direction you are facing or going.
   - _The crowd surged forward when the gates opened._
   - _Despite the setback, the negotiations inched forward over the following weeks._
2. Onward into the future, from the present moment or from a specified point in time.
   - Simple: Into the future, from now or from a certain time.
   - _Going forward, the committee will meet monthly instead of weekly._
   - _From that night forward, she never missed a day of practice._
15. So that the front and back are in their usual orientation; not reversed.
   - Simple: With the front facing the normal way, not turned around.
   - _After the joke, he spun his cap around so the brim sat forward again._
   - _He wears his cap backward at practice but forward in class._
11. To an earlier point in time, as when an event or deadline is rescheduled.
   - Simple: To an earlier time or date than planned.
   - _The airline brought the departure forward by an hour._
   - _The school moved the exam forward from Friday to Thursday because of the storm._
17. In the usual or normal order or sequence, rather than in reverse.
   - Simple: In the normal order, from start to end.
   - _Spelled forward or backward, the word 'level' reads the same._
   - _Played forward at normal speed, the tape revealed nothing unusual._
13. At, near, or toward the bow of a vessel, relative to the vessel itself.
   - Simple: At or toward the front of a ship or boat.
   - _The lookout stood forward, scanning the sea for ice._
   - _All cargo was shifted forward to raise the stern._

## Verb

3. To send a letter, email, or other message on to a third party or another address.
   - Simple: To send a message or letter you received on to someone else.
   - _She forwarded the invoice to the accounting department for payment._
   - _Could you forward the meeting notes to anyone who missed the call?_
6. To advance or promote something, such as a cause, plan, or interest.
   - Simple: To help something grow, move ahead, or succeed.
   - _The foundation forwards scientific research through grants and fellowships._
   - _Diplomats worked for months to forward the cause of peace in the region._

## Adjective

4. Located at or toward the front of something, such as a vehicle or vessel; in military use, positioned near the enemy's lines.
   - Simple: At or near the front of something, or close to the enemy in a war.
   - _The forward cabin of the yacht holds two narrow bunks._
   - _Archers occupied the forward towers of the castle._
7. Moving or directed toward the front or in the direction of travel.
   - Simple: Going or pointing toward the front.
   - _The plane's forward velocity dropped sharply as the flaps deployed._
   - _A forward pass in football must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage._
8. Moving in the desired direction of progress, as of plans, negotiations, or other developments.
   - Simple: Making progress and moving in the direction people want.
   - _The cease-fire was the first forward movement in the peace process for years._
   - _Investors took the prototype as proof of genuine forward momentum at the startup._
14. Bold or presumptuous beyond what is considered polite; lacking customary restraint or modesty.
   - Simple: Too bold or confident with other people, in a way that seems rude.
   - _Some guests thought it forward of her to request an invitation outright._
   - _He apologized for being too forward and quickly changed the subject._
10. Anticipated or arranged for a time still to come.
   - Simple: Planned or expected to happen in the future.
   - _The mill reported strong forward bookings through next spring._
   - _Analysts focused on the company's forward earnings rather than last year's results._
18. Having the usual or normal order or sequence, rather than a reversed one.
   - Simple: Going in the normal order, from first to last.
   - _A palindrome reads the same whether taken in forward or reverse order._
   - _The audit checked every transaction in forward chronological order._

## Noun

5. In team sports such as soccer and hockey, a player in an attacking position, mainly responsible for scoring.
   - Simple: In sports like soccer or hockey, a player whose main job is to attack and score.
   - _The coach pulled a forward and added a defender to protect the lead._
   - _Both forwards pressed high, forcing the defenders into mistakes._
9. Either of two basketball positions (small forward or power forward) played by athletes typically taller than guards but shorter than centers.
   - Simple: In basketball, a player who is usually taller than the guards but shorter than the center.
   - _The veteran forward stretched the defense with his outside shooting._
   - _At six-foot-nine, she moved between the forward and center positions._
16. An email message passed along to additional recipients; often a chain letter.
   - Simple: An email that someone passes on to other people after getting it.
   - _She deleted yet another forward from her uncle promising good luck to everyone who passed it on._
   - _By Friday her inbox was clogged with forwards from well-meaning coworkers._
12. In rugby, one of the eight players in the pack (props, hooker, locks, flankers, and number eight) whose primary task is to gain and keep possession of the ball.
   - Simple: In rugby, one of the eight strong players whose main job is to win the ball.
   - _A forward must be powerful enough to drive through tackles at close quarters._
   - _The forwards won a clean lineout deep in opposition territory._
20. A private agreement between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a set price on a future date, unlike a futures contract, which is standardized and traded on an exchange.
   - Simple: A deal between two sides to buy or sell something later at a price they agree on now.
   - _The two banks negotiated a currency forward maturing in ninety days._
   - _Because each forward is privately negotiated, the parties bear each other's credit risk._

## Adjective

19. Advanced beyond the usual degree of development; ahead of the normal time or season; precocious. *(dated)*
   - Simple: More grown or developed than is usual for the age or time of year.
21. Ready and prompt; eagerly or ardently inclined; in a negative sense, overly eager or hasty. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Quick and eager to do something, sometimes too eager or in a hurry.

## Noun

22. An agreement or covenant between parties. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A promise or agreement made between two or more people.

## Other meanings

- (noun) The front section of a ship or other vessel.
- (verb) To arrive; to come to a place.
- (verb) To assemble a book by sewing its sections together, attaching the cover boards, and completing similar structural steps.
- (adverb) In the front part of something or close to it, or toward that part, as in 'sit farther forward.'

## Origin

**Meanings 1–21** — Proto-Germanic roots meaning "fore-" and "turned" combined in Old English foreweard ("inclined to the front, forward, early, former"), which became Middle English foreward. In English terms it is fore + -ward. Dutch voorwaarts and German vorwärts ("forward") are related.
**Meaning 22** — Old English foreweard ("agreement, bargain, condition, contract, treaty") was built from fore- and ward ("ward, keeping") and became Middle English foreward. Relatives include Scots forward ("covenant, compact") and Dutch voorwaarde ("condition, terms, stipulation").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/forward (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).