forward 1 of 3

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 onwards
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

1
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
4

forward

3 of 3

verb

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
Phoenix Mercury star forward Satou Sabally voiced her displeasure with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for the slight uptick in games last weekend—adding another subject of contention in CBA talks. Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 13 June 2025 Honoring freedom and history Pape Ndiaye, founder of the Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas, is also looking forward to the celebration. Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2025
Adjective
In an incident update, Cal Fire said crews had halted the fire’s forward progress. Jason Green, Mercury News, 11 June 2025 The aircraft carrier and its naval aviators are preparing for their first patrol since returning to Japan—a U.S. ally—for a forward deployment almost eight months ago. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025
Verb
The committee also forwarded a provision to create a separate entertainment district zone for the Berkley Riverfront, which would pave the way for the sale and consumption of alcohol from portable bars under city licensing tied specifically to the riverfront area. Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025 What Happens Next The case has been forwarded to the State Attorney's office for prosecution, the Largo Police Department said. Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for forward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forward
Adverb
  • Meanwhile, top-line forwards Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart — who finished first and second in voting for the Selke Trophy given annually to the league’s best defensive forward — also dealt with injuries late in the playoff run.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
  • Per the teams’ roster breakdowns at The Ice Garden, the long list of players on expiring contracts includes notable players like forwards Hannah Miller, Michela Cava and 2024 PWHL MVP Natalie Spooner, defender Melissa Channell-Watkins and goaltender Maddie Rooney.
    Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
Adjective
  • Playing familiar music can make using the toilet feel like a fun, comfortable activity, rather than a scary one.
    Kara Nesvig, Parents, 12 June 2025
  • Now, the No. 4-seed Fort Lauderdale United FC will face a familiar foe: the Tampa Bay Sun FC.
    Kaitlyn Pohly, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
Adjective
  • Past the tiny front gate, the space reveals its captivatingly decadent allure.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 20 June 2025
  • The Juneteenth walk took participants through Central Park to the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum for the opportunity to add their handprints to a community art project created in the outside front courtyard.
    Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Be extra cautious if recreating with sparks or flame.
    Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
  • Unlike his predecessor Pope Francis, who often spoke off the cuff, Leo is more cautious and speaks from a prepared text.
    Joshua McElwee, USA Today, 15 June 2025
Verb
  • These plays still aren’t consistent from Ivey, but look for the Pistons to put him in more pick-and-roll situations to encourage more growth in that department.
    Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 18 June 2025
  • State lawmakers created the program in 2017 to encourage more publicly funded, privately run schools to open in areas where traditional public schools had been failing for years, giving students and families in those neighborhoods a way to bail out of a persistently struggling school.
    Kate Payne, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2025
Adverb
  • However, the ship did not appear to be noticeably listing, meaning Pyongyang is likely able to send it onward to the other port to inspect the vessel's electronics.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 June 2025
  • The Pacers trailed by double-digits from late in the second quarter onward.
    Tony East, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • But while Boyle is proud of his influence on the zombie film landscape, he’s mostly abstained from watching any of those movies himself.
    Jake Kleinman, Wired News, 20 June 2025
  • That one small step was just the beginning, paving the way for a succession of shorts and feature-length films that have been proud to wear their sci-fi credentials on their Space Ranger sleeves.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • In some areas, this might work: Restricting the export of advanced U.S. semiconductor technology to China seems to have helped hold Beijing’s chip industry back.
    Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 14 June 2025
  • Not until comparatively recently has medicine begun to catalogue the health concerns associated with a father’s advanced age, and there are a number of them, including somewhat higher incidences of autism and of diagnoses of schizophrenia later in life.
    Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 14 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Forward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forward. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.

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