come forward

phrasal verb

The phrase "come forward" is commonly used when someone offers help, information, or presents themselves voluntarily, often in legal or investigative contexts.

🇺🇸 US Voice:

🇬🇧 UK Voice:

Definition

B2General

(common)To voluntarily offer help or services.

Example

Several people came forward to help with the community project.
The charity asked for volunteers to come forward.

C1Legal

(formal, law, investigative)To provide information or evidence, especially in a legal or investigative context.

Example

Witnesses are encouraged to come forward with any information about the crime.
The whistleblower came forward with crucial evidence.

C1Public

(common)To become publicly known or revealed.

Example

New evidence came forward that changed the course of the investigation.
The truth eventually came forward.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "come forward":

step forward bring forward come forth put forward move forward front up come out come up move ahead come up to push forward moving forward speak up come through pipe up put forth bring forth come out with come clean come on to rear one's head show oneself go forth come before come along step up set forward expose oneself come around