Going forward
Meaning
The phrase "going forward" means from this point onward, referring to future actions or developments.
Origin
The phrase "Going forward" isn't ancient, born in battle or ritual. Instead, it quietly slipped into the English lexicon during the late 20th century, a product of the booming corporate world. As businesses sought crisp, decisive language for planning and strategy, this phrase offered a subtly authoritative alternative to the simpler "in the future" or "from now on." It brought with it a sense of professional momentum, implying not just a time marker, but a clear, directed path into the next steps. Its rapid adoption in boardrooms and memos alike solidified its place, transforming from a mere temporal indicator into a buzzword signaling focus and progress.
Examples
- Going forward, we need to ensure all reports are submitted by Friday.
- The team decided that, going forward, all meetings would start promptly at 9 AM.