1
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
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
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
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
Chris Vannini, New York Times, 4 May 2026
In the fifth season of a contract extension paying him $15 million a year, Buxton moves forward.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 4 May 2026
Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
So moving Stankoven to the middle in training camp certainly raised the eyebrows of many, especially considering Carolina has several other smallish players among its forward corps.
—Cory Lavalette, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
City Attorney Heather Ferbert told ProPublica her office has forwarded these cases to the FBI and warned residents to be on the lookout for advertisements that promise a government official or lawyer can help with immigration proceedings.
—Naisha Roy, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forward
Adverb
Where everything surrounding it is pushing it forward.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 4 May 2026
In the fifth season of a contract extension paying him $15 million a year, Buxton moves forward.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 4 May 2026
Adjective
Officials follow their forward guidance to help keep markets stable, make monetary policy more effective and influence financial conditions.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
So moving Stankoven to the middle in training camp certainly raised the eyebrows of many, especially considering Carolina has several other smallish players among its forward corps.
—Cory Lavalette, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Verb
The commission forwarded six recommendations to the council last year, including acknowledging anti-MAPA discrimination, affirming free speech and developing anti-bias training in coordination with UC Davis and the Davis Joint Unified School District.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
City Attorney Heather Ferbert told ProPublica her office has forwarded these cases to the FBI and warned residents to be on the lookout for advertisements that promise a government official or lawyer can help with immigration proceedings.
—Naisha Roy, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forward
Adverb
-
Brossoit made 34 saves in Game 1, where forwards Huntington, Kasper Halttunen, Colin White, and Igor Chernyshov all scored for San Jose before forward Trevor Connelly scored 38 seconds into overtime to give Henderson the win.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The series used multiple timelines, showing stories that took place in the present as well as flashbacks to the siblings' childhood and flash-forwards to later years.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
But no fewer than nine of those came from 80 minutes onwards — and five of them were in stoppage time.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
Consumer neuroscience has increasingly played a role in consumer behavior analysis from the 2000s onward.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Many of the precautions a traveler could take are similar to those that became familiar at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Details about the underlying allegation remain murky, but the department sources familiar with the matter said the LAPD’s secretive Special Operations Division tailed officers who were under investigation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
The front area of the deck is being fitted with 100 square meters of solar panels, capable of delivering more than 20 kilowatts of electrical power.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
Recently, signs inside and outside of the front entrances of Publix stores throughout the state, including in South and Central Florida, seemed to indicate the policy has shifted.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
The measure passed Wednesday stops short of a categorical ban that some have sought, but was still met with cautious optimism by traffic safety reformers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
The defense, which only improved post-Olympics after Paul Coffey returned behind the bench, collapsed in front of an incredibly cautious goaltending tandem.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Officials also encourage businesses to give customers a glimpse of how dim sum is made through live-streaming.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
-
Becerra proposes to require cities and counties to approve or deny building permits within 90 days, loosening certain regulations for infill projects and reforming construction defect laws to encourage more construction of entry-level condos.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Adverb
-
The anti-vaccine rhetoric, and the efforts to revise laws and regulations, rumbled along at the state health department, and in the legislature.—
Kerry Sheridan,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Experts have noted that handbag placement can cue royal protection teams to move a principal along, adjust spacing or wrap up an appearance, all without creating a scene.—
Terry Moseley,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
This is the experience of reading their early work; sitting alongside Myles, we are propelled forth, out into the streets of New York, back into the past, and yet also—inevitably, inexorably—forward to the effulgent future that awaits their young writer.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
Billionaire Tom Steyer went back and forth with Becerra over the latter’s decision to accept the maximum $39,200 campaign contribution from Chevron.—
Ben Paviour
May 6,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forward. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
