forward

/ˈfɔrwərd/

/ˈfɔwəd/

Other forms: forwards; forwarded; forwarding; forwardly

Forward is the direction ahead of you, or toward the front of something. It can also be a position on a basketball, soccer, or hockey team.

Forward can be a direction of either space or time, and also implies progress. A forward-thinking person thinks about what will happen in the future. If you forward an email, you send it on to a new recipient. But if you forward a cause, that means you helped propel it to success. If you’re at a bar and someone tells you you’re being awfully forward, you’re probably coming on too strong.

Definitions of forward

1. adverb

   at or to or toward the front
   “he faced forward”

   “step forward”

   synonyms: forrad, forrard, forwards, frontward, frontwards

   antonyms:

   backward

   at or to or toward the back or rear
2. adverb

   in a forward direction
   “they went slowly forward in the mud”

   synonyms: ahead, forrader, forwards, onward, onwards
3. adverb

   forward in time or order or degree
   synonyms: forth, onward
4. adverb

   toward the future; forward in time
   “I look forward to seeing you”

   synonyms: ahead

   antonyms:

   backward

   in or to or toward a past time
5. adverb

   near or toward the bow of a ship or cockpit of a plane
   synonyms: fore
6. adjective

   at or near or directed toward the front
   “the forward section of the aircraft”

   “a forward plunge down the stairs”

   “forward motion”

   synonyms:

   full-face, gardant, guardant

   looking forward

   headfirst, headlong

   with the head foremost

   fore

   situated at or toward the bow of a vessel

   progressive

   favoring or promoting progress

   antonyms:

   backward

   directed or facing toward the back or rear

   backswept, sweptback

   used of hair

   cacuminal, retroflex

   pronounced with the tip of the tongue turned back toward the hard palate

   converse, reversed, transposed

   turned about in order or relation

   inverse, reverse

   reversed (turned backward) in order or nature or effect

   rearward, reverse

   directed or moving toward the rear

   receding

   (of a hairline e.g.) moving slowly back

   reflexive, self-referent

   referring back to itself

   regardant

   looking backward

   retracted

   drawn back and in

   retral, retrograde

   moving or directed or tending in a backward direction or contrary to a previous direction

   retroflex, retroflexed

   bent or curved backward

   returning, reversive

   tending to be turned back

   regressive

   opposing progress; returning to a former less advanced state

   retrospective

   concerned with or related to the past
7. adjective

   moving forward
   synonyms: advancing, forward-moving

   progressive

   favoring or promoting progress
8. adjective

   of the transmission gear causing forward movement in a motor vehicle
   “in a forward gear”

   antonyms:

   reverse

   of the transmission gear causing backward movement in a motor vehicle
9. noun

   a position on a basketball, soccer, or hockey team
   type of:

   position

   (in team sports) the role assigned to an individual player
10. noun

    the person who plays the position of forward in certain games, such as basketball, soccer, or hockey
    examples:

    Julius Winfield Erving

    United States basketball forward (born in 1950)

    type of:

    basketball player, basketeer, cager

    an athlete who plays basketball
11. adjective

    used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty
    “a forward child badly in need of discipline”

    synonyms:

    brash, cheeky, nervy

    offensively bold

    bumptious, self-assertive

    offensively self-assertive

    overfamiliar

    taking undue liberties

    fresh, impertinent, impudent, overbold, sassy, saucy, smart, wise

    improperly forward or bold

    assuming, assumptive, presumptuous

    excessively forward

    bold

    fearless and daring

    antonyms:

    backward

    (used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature

    bashful, blate

    disposed to avoid notice

    timid

    showing fear and lack of confidence
12. verb

    send or ship onward from an intermediate post or station in transit
    “forward my mail”

    synonyms: send on

    type of:

    send, ship, transport

    transport commercially