forward pass

noun

A pass in the forward direction, advancing toward the goal, generally illegal except in American football, once per play, from behind the line of scrimmage.

Similar
aerial
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Meanings

nounforward pass (plural forward passes)

plural forward passes

  1. American footballA pass in the forward direction, advancing toward the goal, generally illegal except in American football, once per play, from behind the line of scrimmage.

    They used the break well. England emerged sharper for the second half. Abby Dow had already seen a try wiped off for a forward pass by Kildunne, shortly before a shock-and-awe line-out drive, powered by 10 of the team and covering 22m, ended with Cokayne dotting down.

    2025 September 20, Mike Henson, “Kildunne stars as England see off France to make final”, in BBC Sport

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna pass to a receiver downfield from the passer

Similar
aerial
Broader
passpassing playpassing game
Also see
aerial

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Czech přihrávka dopředu
  • přihrávka dopředufoul in rugby
Finnish eteenpäinsyöttö
  • eteenpäinsyöttöfoul in rugby
Cite this entry
APA

forward pass. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/forward%20pass

MLA

“forward pass.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/forward%20pass. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “forward pass,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/forward%20pass.

Source: forward pass on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.