What is another word for forward?

It depends which forward you mean. In the sense “at or to or toward the front”, the synonyms are forwards, frontward, frontwards, forrad, forrard. Across all 12 senses there are 14 distinct synonyms, and they are not interchangeable with each other — this page lists them under the sense each one belongs to.

What is the opposite of forward?

The recorded antonyms are backward, reverse. Opposites are sense-specific too: this page shows which meaning each one is the opposite of, because a word rarely has a single opposite that holds for all of its senses.

Why are the synonyms for forward split into groups?

Because forward carries 12 recorded senses and each has its own set of substitutes. A single flat list would put words from unrelated meanings side by side with nothing to tell them apart, which is exactly how a writer picks the wrong one. The grouping comes from WordNet's synsets, not from an editorial judgement of ours.

Where do the synonyms for forward come from?

From Princeton University's WordNet, a lexical database maintained by lexicographers since 1985. A synonym here means a word form that shares a synset with this word — a set of forms interchangeable in one recorded context. Nothing on this page is generated by a language model.

Synonyms and antonyms

forward

forward/ˈfɔɹwɚd/

adverbadjectivenounverbCore

forward has 14 distinct synonyms spread across 7 of its 12 senses. Each sense below keeps its own list, because a synonym belongs to a meaning and not to a word: swapping one sense's substitute into another sense's sentence is how a thesaurus makes writing worse. Its 2 recorded opposites are backward, reverse.

14
Distinct synonyms: 2
Antonyms: 12 of 12
Senses with a relation

Counts are distinct word forms across every sense. A synonym that appears under three senses is counted once here and shown three times below, under each sense it belongs to.

forward as an adverb

5 of 5 senses carry a relation

1.
at or to or toward the front
“he faced forward”
Synonymsforwards frontward frontwards forrad forrard
Antonymsbackward
2.
forward in time or order or degree
“from that time forth”
Synonymsforth onward
3.
toward the future; forward in time
“I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring”
Synonymsahead
Antonymsbackward
4.
in a forward direction
“go ahead”
Synonymsahead onward onwards forwards forrader
5.
near or toward the bow of a ship or cockpit of a plane
“the captain went fore (or forward) to check the instruments”
Synonymsfore

forward as an adjective

4 of 4 senses carry a relation

1.
at or near or directed toward the front
“the forward section of the aircraft”
SynonymsNo synonym recorded for this sense.
Antonymsbackward
2.
used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty
“a forward child badly in need of discipline”
SynonymsNo synonym recorded for this sense.
Antonymsbackward
3.
of the transmission gear causing forward movement in a motor vehicle
“in a forward gear”
SynonymsNo synonym recorded for this sense.
Antonymsreverse
4.
moving forward
Synonymsadvancing forward-moving

forward as a noun

2 of 2 senses carry a relation

1.
the person who plays the position of forward in certain games, such as basketball, soccer, or hockey
SynonymsNo synonym recorded for this sense.
Related
Broaderbasketball player
NarrowerErving
2.
a position on a basketball, soccer, or hockey team
SynonymsNo synonym recorded for this sense.
Related
Broaderposition

forward as a verb

1 of 1 sense carry a relation

1.
send or ship onward from an intermediate post or station in transit
“forward my mail”
Synonymssend on
Related
Broadertransport

Questions about forward

What is another word for forward?: It depends which forward you mean. In the sense “at or to or toward the front”, the synonyms are forwards, frontward, frontwards, forrad, forrard. Across all 12 senses there are 14 distinct synonyms, and they are not interchangeable with each other — this page lists them under the sense each one belongs to.
What is the opposite of forward?: The recorded antonyms are backward, reverse. Opposites are sense-specific too: this page shows which meaning each one is the opposite of, because a word rarely has a single opposite that holds for all of its senses.
Why are the synonyms for forward split into groups?: Because forward carries 12 recorded senses and each has its own set of substitutes. A single flat list would put words from unrelated meanings side by side with nothing to tell them apart, which is exactly how a writer picks the wrong one. The grouping comes from WordNet's synsets, not from an editorial judgement of ours.
Where do the synonyms for forward come from?: From Princeton University's WordNet, a lexical database maintained by lexicographers since 1985. A synonym here means a word form that shares a synset with this word — a set of forms interchangeable in one recorded context. Nothing on this page is generated by a language model.

Other views of forward

Synonyms, antonyms and the broader and narrower relations for forward come from Princeton University’s WordNet. Full sources and licences.

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