# northward

/ˈnɔɹθwɝd/ (US) · /nˈɔːθwəd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/northward
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

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

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

## Examples

- The birds fly northward every spring.
- The hikers continued northward along the ridge until they reached the summit of the mountain.
- As the storm front shifted northward, the coastal towns prepared for heavy rain and high winds that were expected to last throughout the night.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They traveled to northward" but "They traveled northward" — Northward is an adverb of direction and does not require the preposition 'to' before it.

## Usage notes

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.