1. an advanced stage - the forwardness of the harvest this year - the arts are in no kind of forwardness in this matter • Derivationally related forms: forward • Hypernyms: earliness 2. prompt willingness - readiness to continue discussions - they showed no eagerness to spread the gospel - they disliked his zeal in demonstrating his superiority - he tried to explain his forwardness in battle • Syn: readiness, eagerness, zeal • Hypernyms: willingness 3. offensive boldness and assertiveness • Syn: bumptiousness, cockiness, pushiness • Derivationally related forms: forward, pushy (for: pushiness), cocky (for: cockiness), bumptious (for: bumptiousness) • Hypernyms: assertiveness, self-assertiveness