bring forward: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “bring forward” mean?
to move an event, meeting, or date to an earlier time.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to move an event, meeting, or date to an earlier time; to present an idea, proposal, or piece of evidence for consideration.
In accounting: to transfer a sum from the bottom of a previous page or column to the top of a new one (as in 'balance brought forward').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the 'move earlier' sense, 'move up' or 'advance' is equally common in American English. 'Bring forward' is slightly more common in UK English for this meaning. The accounting sense 'b/f' (brought forward) is standard in both.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'bring forward' for presenting evidence/ideas carries a formal, official, or deliberative tone.
Frequency
More frequent in British English overall, particularly in administrative, academic, and parliamentary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “bring forward” in a Sentence
[NP] bring forward [NP] (e.g., They brought the meeting forward)[NP] bring forward [NP] [to NP/AdvP] (e.g., We need to bring the launch forward to June)[NP] bring forward [NP] for [NP] (e.g., She brought forward new data for the committee)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bring forward” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Could we bring forward the board meeting to Thursday?
- The minister was asked to bring forward the new environmental bill.
- The balance brought forward from last quarter is £1,200.
American English
- We need to bring the project timeline forward by two weeks.
- The defense attorney brought forward a key witness.
- The figure brought forward from the previous page is marked 'b/f'.
adjective
British English
- The brought-forward meeting date caused some diary conflicts.
- A brought-forward legislative schedule is expected.
American English
- The brought-forward deadline put pressure on the team.
- Her brought-forward testimony changed the case.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for rescheduling meetings or deadlines, and for presenting business cases or financial figures.
Academic
Used when presenting research findings, arguments, or hypotheses in papers or seminars.
Everyday
Common for changing appointment times or suggesting ideas in group planning.
Technical
In accounting: 'balance brought forward' (b/f). In project management: to advance a milestone.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bring forward”
- Using 'bring forward' to mean 'carry something physically' (use 'bring here'). Confusing with 'put forward' (very similar for ideas, but 'put forward' is more common for suggestions, 'bring forward' for evidence). Using it intransitively (incorrect: *'The meeting brought forward'; correct: 'They brought the meeting forward').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are largely synonymous for introducing ideas/evidence. 'Put forward' is more common for suggestions, names, or theories. 'Bring forward' often implies presenting something tangible like evidence, a bill, or a report, and is the standard term for moving events earlier.
It is neutral to formal. It's perfectly fine in everyday speech for appointments, but is also standard in formal, business, legal, and parliamentary language.
The most common opposites are 'postpone', 'put back', 'delay', or 'push back'.
No, that is not a standard meaning. For physically moving an object towards you, use 'bring (it) here', 'move it closer', or 'pull it forward'.
to move an event, meeting, or date to an earlier time.
Bring forward: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbrɪŋ ˈfɔːwəd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbrɪŋ ˈfɔːrwərd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bring forward the curtain (theatre: rare)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine physically BRINGING a calendar page FORWARD towards you to make an event happen sooner.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS SPACE (moving an event forward in time towards the present). IDEAS ARE OBJECTS (bringing an idea forward into the 'light' of discussion).
Practice
Quiz
In an accounting context, what does 'brought forward' (b/f) typically mean?