forward

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   send or ship onward from an intermediate post or station in transit

   forward my mail

2. 2
   adv

   at or to or toward the front

   I like to face forward on trains.

3. 3
   adv

   toward the future

   forward in time

4. 4
   adv

   near or toward the bow of a ship or cockpit of a plane

   the captain went fore (or forward) to check the instruments

5. 5
   adj

   at or near or directed toward the front

   the forward section of the aircraft

6. 6
   adj

   of the transmission gear causing forward movement in a motor vehicle

   in a forward gear

7. 7
   adj

   Situated toward or at the front of something.

   The fire was confined to the forward portion of the store.

8. 8
   adj

   Acting in or pertaining to the direction in which someone or something is facing.

   My forward vision is fine, but my peripheral vision is poor.

Etymology

From Middle English foreward, from Old English foreweard (“condition, bargain, agreement, contract, treaty, assurance”), equivalent to fore- + ward (“ward, keeping”). Cognate with Scots forward (“covenant, compact”), Dutch voorwaarde (“condition, terms, proviso, stipulation”). More at fore-, ward.