onward

onward, forward, forth are comparable when they mean in the act of advancing or getting ahead (as in a movement, progression, series, or sequence).

They are frequently used with little or no distinction, but onward often suggests progress or advance toward a definite goal, end, or place

{

half a league onward . . . rode the six hundred— Tennyson

}

{

onward into future lives— Hawkridge

}

Forward, opposed to backward, has more specific reference to movement or advance with reference to what lies before rather than back in place (see forward under BEFORE) or in time

{

his skill in reconciling conflicting points of view and his forward- looking spirit— Dean

}

{

from this time forward Webster's bête noire was party spirit— Warfel

}

or in a succession (as of incidents in a narrative or of steps in a process)

{

the center has not yet been rebuilt, though they are . . . getting forward with it— Rowse

}

Forth is often interchangeable with forward without loss

{

Expeditions went forth into the interior—P. E. James

}

{

from that day forth

}

but in certain idioms it may be quite distinctive and imply a making known, present, available, or real something previously unknown, lacking, unavailable, or hidden; thus, one brings forth from or as if from a place of concealment

{

bring forth a precious jewel

}

and one sets forth by providing

{

set forth an ample supper

}

or by making simple and clear

{

in his charge to the grand jury ... he set forth the democratic basis of the new state government— Meriwether

}