Word
forwards
Phoneticsfor·wards, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɔɹwɝdz/
UK/fˈɔːwədz/
Adverb of place
Definitions
01toward the front
A2 · Elementary British English
adv. toward the direction that is in front of you.
adv. toward a destination or in a direction that is in front of the subject. Often used interchangeably with 'forward', though 'forwards' is more common in British English.
“The crowd moved forwards to get a better view of the stage.”
“He leaned forwards to catch the whispered instructions, careful not to disrupt the silence of the library.”
Usage
Commonly used with verbs of motion like 'move', 'lean', or 'step'.
Antonyms
02toward the future
B1 · Intermediate
adv. moving toward a later time or making progress.
adv. moving toward the future or a state of further development.
“We need to look forwards and plan for the next year.”
“The company is looking forwards to a period of sustained growth following the successful merger.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'looking forwards to' or to describe chronological progress.
Antonyms
03attacking players
B1 · Intermediate Plural noun Sports
n. the players in a team who are responsible for attacking and scoring goals.
n. the attacking players in a team game, such as football, rugby, or hockey, whose primary role is to score.
“The team has two very fast forwards who score most of the goals.”
“The coach decided to substitute one of the forwards to strengthen the midfield defense during the final ten minutes of the match.”
Antonyms
Etymology
From forward + -s (adverbial suffix).
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADVERB
Idioms
- 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.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL 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: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/forwards