To fast-forward means to skip ahead through recorded content, like when you press a button to zoom past the boring parts of a movie or jump ahead in a song.

Today, we fast-forward through digital videos, podcasts, and streaming shows. You might fast-forward through commercial breaks, long opening credits, or scenes you've already watched. Most devices show the video speeding by while you hold the button, so you can stop when you reach the part you want.

People also use fast-forward as a metaphor for jumping ahead in time. A teacher might say, “Let's fast-forward to the exciting part of the story,” meaning “let's skip the slow parts and get to what happens next.” Someone telling a long story might say “fast-forward to Tuesday” when they want to skip over unimportant details. If you could fast-forward through a boring car ride or a difficult week of studying, you'd arrive at the fun destination or weekend without experiencing all the tedious moments in between.