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Synonyms

northward

American  
[nawrth-werd, nawr-therd] / ˈnɔrθ wərd, ˈnɔr ðərd /

adverb

  1. Also northwards, northwardly. toward the north.

adjective

  1. Also northwardly. moving, bearing, facing, or situated toward the north.

noun

  1. the northward part, direction, or point.

northward British  
/ ˈnɔːðəd, ˈnɔːθwəd /

adjective

  1. moving, facing, or situated towards the north

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the northward part, direction, etc; the north

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. a variant of northwards

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • northwardly adjective

Etymology

Origin of northward

before 1100; Middle English; Old English northweard. See north, -ward

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He made plans to pick up additional provisions on their journey northward.

From Literature

It stretches northward into desolate permafrost regions flush with “oil sands” that produce about nine times as much crude as Alaska.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We hope this latest individual has moved northwards back towards the normal habitat for this species and is able to continue their journey safely without intervention," the spokesperson added.

From BBC

During earlier warm periods, when more ice broke off from West Antarctica and drifted northward, the iron entering the ocean was often in this poorly soluble form.

From Science Daily

In this case, the winter storm is pushing northwards and eastwards, clearing the Canadian maritime by Tuesday but leaving more cold air in its wake.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.