Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Directed toward the front or in the direction of movement: Located at or moving toward the front.
   • Advanced or early in development: More developed or mature than is usual for a particular age or time.
   • Bold or presumptuous: Lacking restraint or modesty in manner or behavior.

2. Adverb:

   • Toward the front: In the direction that one is facing or moving.
   • Toward the future: In or into a position of future development or progress.
   • Onward so as to make progress: Moving ahead in space or time.

3. Noun:

   • A player positioned near the opponent's goal: An offensive player in sports like basketball, soccer, or hockey.

4. Verb:

   • To send something onward: To dispatch or transmit something to a further destination or recipient.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The forward cabin of the plane has more legroom.
  • She is very forward for a five-year-old, already reading chapter books.
  • His forward remarks made everyone at the meeting uncomfortable.

• Adverb:

  • She leaned forward to hear the speaker better.
  • We need to think forward and plan for next year.
  • The army moved forward under heavy fire.

• Noun:

  • The team's star forward scored three goals in the match.

• Verb:

  • Please forward this email to the rest of the department.
  • The post office will forward my mail to my new address.

Advanced Usage

• "To look forward to": To anticipate something with pleasure.

  • I look forward to meeting you next week.

• "To put/bring forward": To propose an idea or move a scheduled time to an earlier date.

  • He put forward a new theory.
  • The meeting has been brought forward to Tuesday.

• "Forward of": In front of (a particular point, especially on a ship or aircraft).

  • The lifeboats are located forward of the main deck.

Variants and Related Words

• Forwards (adverb): A variant form of the adverb 'forward'. Commonly used in British English.

  • She took a step forwards.

• Forwardness (noun): The quality of being bold or presumptuous.

  • His forwardness was mistaken for rudeness.

• Forward-looking (adjective): Progressive; planning for or anticipating the future. (Listed as a related compound word).

  • The company has a forward-looking strategy.

Synonyms

• Adjective (front): Front, anterior, fore.
• Adjective (bold): Presumptuous, bold, brash, impertinent.
• Adverb (ahead): Ahead, onward, onwards.
• Verb (send on): Transmit, send on, redirect, remit.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Forward to: To send something to a person or place.

  • Could you forward the documents to the client?

• Carry forward:

  • To transfer figures to a new page or account.

    • We will carry forward the balance to next month's budget.
  • To cause something to progress.

    • The new CEO will carry forward the company's vision.

Related Idioms

• Forward march!: A command to begin marching or, figuratively, to begin progressing.

  • The general shouted, "Forward march!"

• Put one's best foot forward: To make a good impression or try one's hardest.

  • In the interview, remember to put your best foot forward.

Adjective

1. moving forward
2. of the transmission gear causing forward movement in a motor vehicle
   • in a forward gear
3. used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty
   • a forward child badly in need of discipline
4. at or near or directed toward the front
   • the forward section of the aircraft
   • a forward plunge down the stairs
   • forward motion

Adverb

1. near or toward the bow of a ship or cockpit of a plane
   • the captain went fore (or forward) to check the instruments
2. in a forward direction
   • go ahead
   • the train moved ahead slowly
   • the boat lurched ahead
   • moved onward into the forest
   • they went slowly forward in the mud
3. toward the future; forward in time
   • I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring
   • I look forward to seeing you
4. forward in time or order or degree
   • from that time forth
   • from the sixth century onward
5. at or to or toward the front; (`forrad' and `forrard' are dialectal variations)
   • he faced forward
   • step forward
   • she practiced sewing backward as well as frontward on her new sewing machine

Noun

1. a position on a basketball, soccer, or hockey team
2. the person who plays the position of forward in certain games, such as basketball, soccer, or hockey

Verb

1. send or ship onward from an intermediate post or station in transit
   • forward my mail