forward-facing
|for-ward-face-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈfɔrwərdˌfeɪsɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈfɔːwədˌfeɪsɪŋ/
oriented toward the front or the future
Etymology
'forward-facing' originates from English, specifically the compound 'forward' + 'facing', where 'forward' meant 'toward the front' and 'face' meant 'front or surface'.
'forward' comes from Old English 'forweard' (for- + -weard) meaning 'toward the front, in front'; 'face' entered English via Old French 'face' from Latin 'facies' meaning 'form, appearance'. The compound form combining an adjective or adverbial element with a present participle (e.g. 'forward-facing') is a Modern English formation that became common in the 19th–20th centuries for descriptive compounds.
Initially used for literal physical orientation ('facing the front'), over time it also gained figurative senses such as 'future-oriented' or 'progressive' in contexts like strategy, design, or outlook.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
physically oriented so that the front faces forward; facing the front.
The airplane has forward-facing seats in the front cabin.
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Adjective 2
figuratively oriented toward the future or toward progress; progressive or proactive in outlook or design (i.e., future-oriented).
The company adopted a forward-facing strategy to invest in emerging technologies.
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Last updated: 2025/10/05 11:48