Word
forth
US/ˈfɔɹθ/
UK/fˈɔːθ/
Adverb of place
Definitions
01forward or out
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal · Literary
adv. forward in time or place, or out from a starting point.
adv. forward in space, time, or degree; out into view from a particular place.
“The trees began to bring forth new leaves as spring arrived.”
“The witness was called to come forth and provide testimony regarding the events of the previous evening.”
Usage
Commonly follows verbs of movement or production like 'go', 'come', 'bring', or 'set'.
Pitfall
This is the forth time I have asked.
This is the fourth time I have asked.
Do not confuse 'forth' (forward) with 'fourth' (the number 4 in a sequence).
02and so forth
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. used at the end of a list to mean 'and other similar things'.
adv. used in the fixed phrase 'and so forth' to indicate that a list continues in a similar manner.
“We discussed the budget, the schedule, the staff, and so forth.”
“The report details the various administrative hurdles, including permit delays, zoning issues, and so forth, that stalled the project.”
03programming language
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Computing Technical
n. a specific type of computer programming language used to control machines.
n. a stack-based, concatenative computer programming language designed by Charles H. Moore.
“The engineer decided to use Forth to program the small satellite controller.”
“Forth is often selected for embedded systems due to its low memory footprint and high execution speed.”
Usage
Usually capitalized when referring to the programming language.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “forth” in context.
Verb
01. bring forth evidence
“The defense attorney managed to bring forth new evidence that cleared the suspect.”
verb + adv + noun
02. go back and forth
“The negotiators had to go back and forth for hours before reaching a compromise.”
verb + and + verb
03. hold forth on politics
“My uncle loves to hold forth on politics whenever we have a family dinner.”
verb + adv + prep + noun
04. sally forth
“Despite the heavy rain, the hikers decided to sally forth into the wilderness.”
verb + adv
05. set forth a plan
“The CEO set forth a plan to restructure the company over the next three years.”
verb + adv + noun
Preposition
06. and so forth
“The kit includes bandages, antiseptic, tape, and so forth.”
prep + noun
07. from that day forth
“They signed the treaty in 1990, and from that day forth, the two nations remained allies.”
prep + noun + prep
Real-World Examples
“The three-hour round trip to her family home means travelling back and forth makes little sense, so she waits on campus instead.” “That back and forth between computers and experiments could be the most exciting part.” Etymology
From fourth, for "fourth-generation programming language"; the u was dropped because the IBM 1130 operating system limited filenames to five characters.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADVERB
Idioms
01. and so forth
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
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