forwards C2+ Topic:Space, Position & Direction US /ˈfɔrwɚdz/ UK /ˈfɔːwədz/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adv toward the front; in the direction one is facing He leaned forwards to hear the whispered reply. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adv · toward the front; in the... forwardaheadonwardfrontwardalong ↔ Opposites backwardsbackwardrearward Word family Related forms forwardonward Etymology AI details From Old English foreweardes, from foreweard ('toward the front') + the adverbial genitive -es, from fore ('before') + -weard ('-ward, in the direction of'). foreweard Old English -weard Old English View etymology graph -> Topics Space, Position & Direction External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # forwards **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adv **IPA (US):** /ˈfɔrwɚdz/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈfɔːwədz/ ## Meanings 1. toward the front; in the direction one is facing ## Examples - He leaned forwards to hear the whispered reply. ## Synonyms - forward - ahead - onward - frontward - along ## Antonyms - backwards - backward - rearward ## Related Forms - forward - onward ## Roots and Affixes - Root: foreweard - Root: -weard ## Etymology From Old English foreweardes, from foreweard ('toward the front') + the adverbial genitive -es, from fore ('before') + -weard ('-ward, in the direction of'). ## AI Etymology Forwards comes from Old English foreweardes, from foreweard ('toward the front') + the adverbial genitive -es, from fore ('before') + -weard ('-ward, in the direction of'). The suffix is part of the word's derivational shape, marking the final grammatical or semantic role while the base supplies the central meaning. As an adverb, it carries the sense "toward the front; in the direction one is facing", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Old English foreweard and Old English -weard. Related words include forward, onward. ## Topics - Space, Position & Direction markdown