Forward (adverb / adjective) — towards the front; in the direction you are facing; making progress or developing.
Forward (verb) — to send a letter, email, or parcel on to a new or different address; to pass information to someone else.
Forward (noun) — an attacking player positioned at the front in football, basketball, or other team sports.
What Does Forward Mean?
Forward is one of the most versatile words in English, functioning as four different parts of speech. Its central meaning connects all of them: movement or direction towards the front, whether physical (step forward), temporal (move forward in time), professional (put forward a proposal), or communicative (forward an email).
As an adverb, forward describes movement in the direction you are facing: The crowd surged forward. As an adjective, it describes something that looks ahead or is situated at the front: a forward-thinking policy; the forward line in football. An adjective use with people can also imply someone is too direct or bold in manner: I hope I'm not being too forward asking this.
As a verb, forward means to send something (a message, a parcel, or information) on to another person or address. It is especially common in business English: Please forward the email to all team members. As a noun, a forward is an attacking player who plays near the opponent's goal.
In British English both forward and forwards exist as adverbs, with forward preferred in fixed phrases and before a noun, and forwards more common in purely directional contexts.
Etymology
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| Please step forward when your name is called. | A2 | adverb — physical direction |
| Can you forward that email to me when you have a moment? | B1 | verb — redirect a message |
| Please forward the email to all team members so everyone has the details. | B1 | verb — the given example sentence |
| The committee agreed to put the proposal forward for a vote next week. | B2 | phrasal verb — put forward (to suggest) |
| Her forward-thinking approach to curriculum design set the department apart from its peers. | C1 | compound adjective — innovative, progressive |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| move forward | We need to move forward with the project. |
| look forward to | I look forward to hearing from you. |
| put forward | She put forward an interesting idea. |
| come forward | Witnesses were asked to come forward. |
| step forward | He stepped forward to accept the award. |
| fast-forward | Let's fast-forward to the conclusion. |
| carry forward | The balance is carried forward to next month. |
| forward planning | Good forward planning avoids last-minute problems. |
| forward-thinking | A forward-thinking company embraces new technology. |
| forward pass | The referee disallowed the forward pass. |
Usage Notes
Key Points for Learners
- forward vs forwards: In British English both forms are acceptable as adverbs. Use forward in fixed phrases (look forward to, put forward, come forward) and as an adjective before a noun (forward planning). Use either form for pure movement: move forward / move forwards.
- look forward to + gerund: This phrase must be followed by a noun or an -ing form, never a bare infinitive. Correct: I look forward to meeting you. Incorrect: I look forward to meet you.
- forward as an adjective describing personality: When describing a person as forward, it means they are too direct or bold in a way that may seem rude. This is a slightly formal or old-fashioned usage: I hope you don't think me too forward.
- forward vs foreword: A foreword (with an 'e') is the introduction to a book. Forward (without an 'e') means direction or to redirect something. The two words are etymologically related but always kept separate in writing.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
I look forward to meet you at the conference.
I look forward to meeting you at the conference. (look forward to requires a gerund, not an infinitive)
The book has an excellent forward written by the editor.
The book has an excellent foreword written by the editor. (the preface is a foreword, not forward)
Please forward to me the report by end of day.
Please forward the report to me by end of day. (in British English, the object typically comes directly after the verb)