forward pass

NOUN

football pass toward opponent's goal

Synonyms

WEAK

aerial bomb flare flare pass pass pass pattern screen screen pass

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Which is how it quickly instituted some of the most notable shifts in the way the game is played since the adoption of the forward pass.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Each forward pass strengthens the wave, while each backward pass weakens it.

From Science Daily • Jan. 17, 2026

Already, Tipping is as allergic to subtlety as a forward pass right down the middle on the 50-yard line — or whatever football play would be a really obvious one.

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2025

No ordinary rules tweak, these new kickoffs might be the biggest on-field rules change since the advent of the forward pass.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2024

In general they have frowned on the forward pass; opposed it, sneered at it, called it basketball and done what they could to retard its adoption.

From The Forward Pass in Football by Berry, Elmer