forward 1 of 3

adverb

Definition of forwardnext
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 onward
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

ˈfȯr-wərd How to pronounce forward (audio)
1
as in familiar
showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty a stranger so forward as to ask what medication he was taking and what it was for

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in higher
being far along in development the local citizenry's attitude toward racial equality was very forward for its time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in cautious
having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future she was forward enough to start investing in her retirement fund at the age of 18

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

forward

3 of 3

verb

as in to encourage
to help the growth or development of their foundation will help forward better relations between young people from those warring nations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison pulled out a move on Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese on Sunday usually reserved for tackle football. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026 The lawsuit seeks to overturn Al-Adlani's firing and to prevent the city from moving forward with the termination process as carried out. —Gino Vicci, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Adjective
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, 11 June 2026 Throughout her career, Andrée Putman maintained a long-standing and influential relationship with New York — marked by projects including the Morgans Hotel in 1984, the industry-forward boutique hotel founded by Studio 54’s Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 11 June 2026
Verb
Police said charges will be forwarded for review by the Lake County Prosecutor's Office. —Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 11 June 2026 If it was forwarded to you, sign up here. —Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for forward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forward
  1. forwards
  2. onward
  3. familiar
  4. front
  5. advanced
  6. cautious
  7. encourage
  8. along
Adverb
  • In Andoni Iraola’s man-marking system, Senesi was front-footed and never afraid to follow centre-forwards all over the pitch, which is beneficial to counter pressing but can be manipulated by good teams.
    — Jay Harris, New York Times, 10 June 2026
  • Likely targets for new deals are forwards Grace Zumwinkle and Kendall Coyne Schofield, and defender Lee Stecklein.
    — John Shipley, Twin Cities, 8 June 2026
Definition of forwards
Adverb
  • The ultimate decision rests now with the Swiss people, with the outcome expected to become clearer from Sunday evening onwards.
    — Sebastian Shukla, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
  • The letters are owned by Stamp’s estate and are headed to auction at Bonhams auction house from June 15 onward.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 9 June 2026
Definition of onward
Adjective
  • She is expected to appear Monday through Wednesday of next week, according to two people familiar with the matter.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 11 June 2026
  • The research is clear that a familiar, gentle fragrance can slow breathing, soften stress and turn a room into a memory.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
Definition of familiar
Adjective
  • As the front moves into very warm, unstable air, some storms could turn severe.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
  • Yoon and his wife stand by the front door, snapping the snow off their coats before removing their shoes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Definition of front
Adjective
  • Fable 5, in particular, marked the first time that Anthropic released such an advanced offering to the public, thanks to new safeguards that block responses in specific high-risk areas.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 13 June 2026
  • Even in the 1970s, the RAND Corporation, a US thinktank, was investigating how Dassault managed to field advanced fighter jets on time and at a cost well below US manufacturers.
    — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
Definition of advanced
Adjective
  • The move suggests a broader shift in Tehran, where a new generation of leaders is increasingly abandoning the cautious, reactive approach that long defined the Islamic Republic’s strategy towards its adversaries.
    — Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 10 June 2026
  • Ciara is very cautious and played it slow in opening her heart up to West.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 10 June 2026
Definition of cautious
Verb
  • While most college broadcast-journalism programs tend to encourage would-be talent to ditch their regional accents in favor of a more neutral, untraceable delivery, TV pros who came up in the bigs aren’t subject to that sort of verbal nullification.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 12 June 2026
  • The event, called Fulfillment Center, was geared toward people of all ages who were encouraged to come, put their phone in a cotton bag and engage with one of the many activities centered around reading, writing, making and playing at a long, communal table.
    — Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Definition of encourage
Adverb
  • There will be bands performing traditional and contemporary Greek music and youth dance troupes in traditional folk costumes along with a kids fun zone, church tours and vendor shopping.
    — Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
  • And follow along on our World Cup tab in the NPR App for more coverage from across the Network.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 June 2026
Definition of along

Phrases Containing forward

Browse Nearby Words

forums
forward
forwarded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Forward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forward. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on forward

Nglish: Translation of forward for Spanish Speakers

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