ENGLISH
REFERENCE

forwards

adv. · n.
US //ˈfɔɹwɝdz// UK //fˈɔːwədz// for·wards
  1. 1 toward the front (adv.)
    A2 Elementary British English

    toward the direction that is in front of you.

    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.

    Example

    The crowd moved forwards to get a better view of the stage.

    Example

    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'.
  2. 2 toward the future (adv.)
    B1 Intermediate

    moving toward a later time or making progress.

    moving toward the future or a state of further development.

    Example

    We need to look forwards and plan for the next year.

    Example

    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.
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  1. 3 attacking players (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sport

    the players in a team who are responsible for attacking and scoring goals.

    the attacking players in a team game, such as football, rugby, or hockey, whose primary role is to score.

    Example

    The team has two very fast forwards who score most of the goals.

    Example

    The coach decided to substitute one of the forwards to strengthen the midfield defense during the final ten minutes of the match.
Etymology 1

From forward + -s (adverbial suffix).

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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