Word
onwards
Phoneticson·wards, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɑnwɝdz/
UK/ˈɒnwədz/
Adverb of time
Definitions
01from a point in time
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. from a specific time and continuing into the future.
adv. indicating a continuous progression in time starting from a specific point.
“From the second week of the course onwards, we will focus on practical skills.”
“From the mid-nineteenth century onwards, the rapid expansion of the railway network fundamentally transformed the nation's internal trade routes.”
Usage
often follows a time expression like 'from the 1990s onwards'.
Antonyms
02moving forward in space
C1 · Advanced Formal · Literary
adv. moving further ahead or towards a destination.
adv. indicating physical movement or direction toward a point ahead.
“The hikers pushed onwards despite the heavy rain and wind.”
“The expedition pressed onwards toward the summit, undeterred by the thinning oxygen and the increasingly treacherous terrain.”
Usage
less common in modern speech than 'onward' or 'forward'.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“In Barbara Davatz’s series As Time Goes By the starting point is the relationship between couples who visited her studio from 1982 onwards.” “The territories have a special arrangement within the free-travel Schengen zone, meaning people cannot travel onwards to mainland Spain without border checks.” Etymology
From on + -wards.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
PREPOSITION
Idioms
- 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/onwards