Definition of forward - Reverso English Dictionary
Adverb
1.
directionat or towards the front of something
- She stepped forward to address the crowd.
2.
progressin the usual direction of progress
- The project is moving forward as planned.
3.
timeinto the future
- We need to plan forward for next year.
Adjective
1.
directionaldirected or facing towards the front
- He took a forward step..
2.
progressprogressing in the desired direction
- The project is making forward progress.
3.
developmentadvanced beyond the usual degree
- The child is forward for her age.
4.
timeexpected to happen in the future
- The forward contract will mature next year.
5.
behaviorlacking customary restraint or modesty
- His forward behavior surprised everyone.
Verb
1.
transfersend something onward to another person or place
- Please forward the package to my new address.
2.
progressadvance or promote a cause or project
- We need to forward our plans for the event.
Noun
1.
communicationUS email sent to another recipientUS
- I received a forward from my colleague.
2.
sportsplayer focused on scoring in sports
- The forward scored the winning goal.
3.
financeTECH. contract for future asset exchangeTECH.
- They agreed on a forward to buy shares.
4.
maritimeTECH. front part of a vesselTECH.
- The crew gathered at the forward of the ship.
Images of forward

front part of a vessel
Expressions with forward
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
propose or suggest for consideration
She put forward a new plan at the meeting..
repay kindness by helping someone else
After receiving help, she decided to pay forward.
focused on future trends and innovations
The company's future forward approach has led to groundbreaking products.
make the ball go closer to the goal or target
The team worked together to move the ball forward.
a situation where progress is lost by greater setbacks
The project felt like one step forward, two steps back.
show oneself in the best way to make a good impression
She always puts her best foot forward at job interviews.
cause a significant change or impact
Her speech moved the needle forward on the issue of climate change.
advance a vehicle carefully or cautiously ahead
The car nosed forward to avoid hitting the barrier.
making progress but facing more setbacks
Every time we solve a problem, another arises, it's one step forward, two steps backward.
repay kindness to others instead of the original benefactor
After receiving help, he chose to pay it forward to others in need.
try hard to get noticed or gain advantage
He always tries to push himself forward at meetings.
significant and rapid advancement or progress
The invention of the internet was a great leap forward.
move ahead in a direction or path
The car will go forward after the light turns green.
advance in a physical direction
The soldiers were ordered to move forward.
move something ahead with force
He used his strength to push forward the heavy cart.
move forward in response to a request
The officer asked him to step forward.
move your body ahead by two steps
Please take two steps forward and stand on the line.
significant progress or improvement in a situation
The new policy is a big step forward for education.
volunteer one's services
She came forward to help organize the event.
move media quickly to a later point
She fast forwarded the movie to the end.
gear that makes a vehicle move ahead
Put the car in forward gear to drive away.
movement in a direction ahead
The car's forward motion was smooth and steady.
anticipate with excitement or hope
I look forward to the concert next week.
change the time on a clock to a later hour
Remember to move the clock forward tonight for daylight saving.
Origin of forward
Old English, foreweard (toward the front)
Terms with forward included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
question
put forward a question to be answered
forward movement
forward in time or space
forward position
at or to the forward part or surface
directional aspect
the side that is on the right when facing forward
progress
move forward physically or in progress
body movement
stoop or incline the body forward
gesture
bend the body forward as a sign of respect
position
of or at the forward part or surface
orientation
forward or prominent side of an object
movement
move forward or proceed in a direction
gesture
extend the hand forward to receive or offer something
movement
travel forward in time or space
progress or movement
moving forward in time, order, or direction
respect
gesture of respect by bending forward
slow progress
move forward slowly with frequent stops
suggest
put forward for consideration
advancement
forward or onward movement towards a goal
movement
flow or move forward rapidly or noisily
movement
the act of moving one foot forward or backward
seeking objections
checking if anyone disagrees before moving forward
body posture
having the upper body folded forward at the waist
stop movement
stand in the way so someone cannot go forward
posture
having the head or body bent forward
movement
move forward quickly and with determination
Examples of forward in a sentence
He leaned forward to hear better. We are looking forward to the future. The car moved forward slowly. Looking forward, we anticipate many changes. The project will move forward after approval. The car moved in a forward direction.
She gave a forward glance. The negotiations showed forward movement by noon. We need a forward step before the deadline. His forward ideas impressed the research team. The course is too forward for most beginners. The forward schedule includes next year's events. Forward planning is crucial for success. Her forward comments made the meeting uncomfortable. The forward questions caught the interviewee off guard. Please forward the invoice to accounting. Forward the email to your manager now. They aim to forward the initiative by next year. Efforts to forward the project have been successful. She sent me a forward of the invitation. The forward contained important updates about the meeting. The team's forward was injured during the match. As a forward, she excelled in scoring goals. The company entered a forward to secure currency rates. Investors use a forward to hedge against market volatility. The forward was damaged in the storm. Repairs were needed at the forward after the collision.
View all translations of forward
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:en avant, frontal, ...
- German:nach vorne, vorder, ...
- Italian:avanti, anteriore, ...
- Spanish:adelante, delantero, ...
- Portuguese:em frente, dianteiro, ...
- Chinese:向前, 向前的, ...
- Japanese:前に, 前方の, ...
- Arabic:إِلَى الْأَمَام, أمامي, ...
- Hebrew:קָדִימָה, קַדְמִי, ...
- Russian:вперед, передний, ...
- Ukrainian:вперед, поступальний, ...
- Hindi:आगे, सामने की ओर, ...
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