Forward Meaning
/ˈfɔːwəd/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjSituated toward or at the front of something.
adjSituated toward or at the front of something., Situated toward or near the enemy lines.
Sentence Examples
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.
I am looking forward to seeing you.
She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The team decided to move ____ toward the finish line.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The team is looking ____ to the upcoming championship match with both excitement and nervousness.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English foreward, from Old English foreweard (“forward, inclined to the front, fore, early, former”), from Proto-Germanic *fura- (“fore-”), *warþaz (“turned”), equivalent to fore + -ward. Cognate with Dutch voorwaarts (“forward”), German vorwärts (“forward”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith."
— 1945 April 12, Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Franklin D. Roosevelt's Last Message to the American People”, in Library of Congress:
"The most forward bud / Is eaten by the canker ere it blow."
— c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
"You promiſt Knighthood to our forward ſonne, / Vnſheath your ſword, and dub him preſently."
— c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 154, column 2:
"[…] the lady conceived the same desires with himself, and was on her side contriving how to give the captain proper encouragement, without appearing too forward; for she was a strict observer of all rules of decorum."
— 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
"He said that if one offered himself to be a soldier under him, who was forward to tell what he could or would do, if he could only get sight of the enemy, he had but little confidence in him."
— 1859, Henry David Thoreau, A Plea for Captain John Brown:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The team decided to move ____ toward the finish line.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The team is looking ____ to the upcoming championship match with both excitement and nervousness.