Word
onward
Phoneticson·ward, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɔnwɝd/
UK/ˈɒnwəd/
Adverb of time
Definitions
01forward in space
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. moving forward or towards a place that is further ahead.
adv. in a forward direction; toward a point ahead in space.
“The hikers pushed onward despite the heavy rain and wind.”
“The expedition pressed onward through the dense jungle, determined to reach the ruins before the seasonal rains made the paths impassable.”
Antonyms
02forward in time
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. continuing from a specific time into the future.
adv. continuing from a specified point in time; often used in the phrase 'from [time] onward'.
“From the 1920s onward, the city grew very quickly.”
“From the mid-nineteenth century onward, industrialisation fundamentally reshaped the social fabric of the northern provinces.”
Usage
Commonly follows a time expression preceded by 'from'.
Synonyms
03moving forward
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. describes a movement that is going forward.
adj. directed or moving forward; typically used before a noun.
“The onward movement of the crowd carried us toward the exit.”
“The onward march of technology has rendered many traditional manufacturing processes obsolete within a single generation.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“The flight cancellations have pushed thousands of travellers towards land crossings, particularly those with Turkiye and Armenia, where onward international flights remain available for Iranians.” “He started to score, 10 goals he scored from March onward, late in the season.” Etymology
From on + -ward.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
PREPOSITION
Idioms
The word in film
Onward · 2020 · Fantasy
- Directed by:
- Dan Scanlon
In this Pixar fantasy directed by Dan Scanlon, two teenage elf brothers travel across a magical land to spend one more day with their father. The title describes their physical journey and their determination to keep moving toward their goal despite many obstacles.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/onward