Meaning & use
forged ahead
Last updated
“forged ahead” is a form of “forge ahead”.
Meanings
phrasephrasal verb
made strong and steady progress, especially when facing challenges
Grammar: Intransitive; often followed by 'with' or 'despite'. The base form is 'forge ahead'.
Patterns
- forged ahead with something
- forged ahead despite something
The team forged ahead with the project even after losing two key members.
She forged ahead despite the criticism and eventually proved everyone wrong.
The company forged ahead with its expansion plans in Asia.
phrasephrasal verb
moved forward quickly and forcefully, often in a race or competition
Grammar: Used literally for physical movement; also figurative for taking the lead.
Patterns
- forged ahead of someone
- forged ahead in a race
The runner forged ahead of the pack in the final lap.
Their technology firm has forged ahead of competitors in the market.
Word forms
| base form | forge ahead |
|---|---|
| third person singular | forges ahead |
| past tense | forged ahead |
| past participle | forged ahead |
| -ing form | forging ahead |
Common combinations
- forge ahead with plans
- The government forged ahead with its plans to build the new airport.
- forge ahead despite difficulties
- She forged ahead despite the financial difficulties.
- forge ahead of rivals
- The company forged ahead of its rivals in the race for innovation.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pressed on
- Similar but often implies continuing after a pause; 'forged ahead' suggests more energy and determination.
- pushed forward
- More general; 'forged ahead' is stronger and often used in news contexts.
- advanced
- More neutral; 'forged ahead' emphasizes overcoming obstacles.
Opposites
Word family
- forge ahead phrasal verb
- The base form, meaning to make strong progress.
- forging ahead phrase
- The -ing form, used in continuous tenses.
Commonly confused: forged ahead or forged?
forged ahead vs forged
As an adjective, 'forged' means fake or copied (e.g., a forged signature). The phrasal verb 'forged ahead' has a completely different meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'forged ahead' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrasal verb 'forge ahead' is intransitive and is followed by 'with' when mentioning what is being continued. 'Forged ahead the project' is missing 'with', 'to' is wrong, and 'ahead of' would mean physically in front.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “forged ahead”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.