ENGLISH
REFERENCE

northward

adv. place
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈnɔɹθwɝd// UK //nˈɔːθwəd// north·ward

adv. toward the north. You use this to describe the direction someone or something is moving.

adv. in a direction toward the north. Often functions as a directional modifier for verbs of motion.


SIMPLE

The birds fly northward every spring.

CONTEXTUAL

The hikers continued northward along the ridge until they reached the summit of the mountain.

COMPLEX

As the storm front shifted northward, the coastal towns prepared for heavy rain and high winds that were expected to last throughout the night.

Synonyms
Origin

From north + -ward.

Usage

Can be used as an adverb or an adjective; as an adverb, it typically follows the verb of motion.

Pitfall

They traveled to northwardThey traveled northwardNorthward is an adverb of direction and does not require the preposition 'to' before it.

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