Forwards

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈfɔːwədz/

Definitions

1. This term describes both the act of moving in the direction of one's front and a position that is ahead in time or space
2. It denotes motion toward the front and also refers to a future point or advancement in a sequence
3. Movement in the direction one faces ; toward a point in the future or ahead in time

Etymology: "Forwards" is simply "forward" with an adverbial "-s" tacked on, and the two words are essentially the same thing. The ending traces back through Proto-West Germanic "-as" and Old English "-es," which were genitive endings that gradually wore down to a bare "-s" in English. Many adverbs once carried this ending, including "afterwards," "towards," and "backwards," and "forwards" follows the same pattern. The "-s" is therefore a fossil of older grammar rather than a plural. Over time, English speakers came to use "forward" and "forwards" interchangeably in many positions, though "forwards" is more common in British English, while "forward" is more typical in American usage. The word also appears as a noun and verb form, as in the sports position "forwards" in football, but that is a separate use of the same root.

Synonyms: ahead, onward, forwardly

Antonyms: backward, reverse