bring forward

move something to an earlier date or time

B2

What does "bring sth forward" mean?

To bring forward a meeting, deadline, or event means to reschedule it so that it happens sooner than originally planned. For example, if a product launch was set for March but is moved to January, it has been brought forward. The key idea is movement towards an earlier point in time — the opposite of postponing or delaying. This phrasal verb is particularly common in professional and formal settings, such as business emails, news reports, and official announcements. It is more typical of British and international English; speakers of American English tend to say 'move up' to express the same idea.

Examples

How to use it

bring + object + forward

The most common active pattern, used when the object is a short noun phrase such as a meeting or deadline.

The manager decided to bring the meeting forward because several team members were leaving early.

bring + pronoun + forward

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'bring' and 'forward' — placing it after the particle is not possible.

The date wasn't working for anyone, so they brought it forward by two weeks.

bring forward + long noun phrase

When the object is a longer noun phrase, it typically comes after 'forward' rather than between the verb and particle.

The committee agreed to bring forward the annual budget review that had been scheduled for December.

object + be brought forward + to + time

The passive form is very common, especially in formal announcements where the person making the decision is not mentioned. The new time is introduced with 'to'.

The product launch has been brought forward to the end of October due to strong pre-orders.

bring forward + object + by + amount of time

Use 'by' to specify how much earlier the event will now take place.

We've brought the submission deadline forward by three days, so please adjust your schedule.

Common Collocations

meetingdeadlineelectiontrialappointmentlaunch

Common Mistakes

Confusing direction: earlier vs. later

'Bring forward' always means moving something to an earlier time, not a later one. To move something to a later time, use 'push back' or 'postpone'.

✗ The conference was brought forward to next month because the venue wasn't ready yet.
✓ The conference was pushed back to next month because the venue wasn't ready yet. / The conference was brought forward to last week to avoid the holiday period.
Pronoun placed after the particle

When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must come between 'bring' and 'forward', never after 'forward'.

✗ The deadline is too late, so let's bring forward it.
✓ The deadline is too late, so let's bring it forward.
Using 'bring forward' to mean proposing an idea

'Bring forward' in this sense only applies to scheduling — moving a calendar event earlier. To suggest or propose an idea for discussion, use 'put forward' instead.

✗ She brought forward a new policy during the meeting.
✓ She put forward a new policy during the meeting. / She brought the meeting forward by one day.

Usage

This phrasal verb is more common in British English; American speakers often say 'move up' instead. It is most frequent in formal or professional contexts like business emails and news reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'bring forward' British English? Would Americans understand it?

Yes, it is predominantly British and international English. American speakers are more likely to say 'move up' — for example, 'move the meeting up to Monday'. Most Americans would understand 'bring forward' in context, but if you're writing for an American audience, 'move up' may feel more natural to them.

Can I use 'bring forward' in the passive? It seems very common in emails.

Yes — the passive is actually one of the most natural ways to use this phrasal verb. It works especially well in formal announcements and emails where you want to state that something has been rescheduled without specifying who made the decision. For example: 'The hearing has been brought forward to 14 March.'

What preposition do I use after 'bring forward' to give the new time?

Use 'to' when giving the new scheduled time or date — for example, 'brought forward to 9 a.m.' or 'brought forward to the first week of June'. Use 'by' when you want to say how much earlier the event will now happen — for example, 'brought forward by two days'.

What kinds of things can be 'brought forward'? Can I use it with any noun?

The object should always be something that can appear on a calendar or schedule — such as a meeting, deadline, election, trial, appointment, launch, or ceremony. You cannot use 'bring forward' with abstract ideas or topics; for those, you would use a different verb such as 'put forward' or 'raise'.

Can I say 'we are bringing the meeting forward' in the present continuous?

It sounds slightly awkward in most situations. 'Bring forward' typically describes a decision that is made at a specific moment, so the simple past ('we brought the meeting forward') or present perfect ('we've brought it forward') tend to sound more natural. The present continuous can work if you're describing an ongoing process of rescheduling, but this is unusual.

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