Forward and Past

Opposite meaning words

Forward adjective - Being far along in development.

Usage example: the local citizenry's attitude toward racial equality was very forward for its time

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Past is an antonym for forward in topics: first, time, brash, advancing.

Past adjective - Having been such at some previous time.

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Forward is an antonym for past.

Time Travel: Carolinus travels forward to recruit Peter, bringing him into the past.

Source: Western Animation / The Flight of Dragons
A potential time traveler going forward in time from the past may indeed think this trope when visiting a company.

Source: Our Graphics Will Suck in the Future
The Simpsons' time exists on a sliding line, so even though every episode happens in "the present", the past keeps moving forward.

Source: Retcon / Western Animation

Cite this Source

Past and Forward. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/forward/past

Forward & Past. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/forward/past>.

Past or Forward. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/forward/past.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "forward" and "past" have occurred on timeline