English Reference
Adverb

southward

adv. place
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈsaʊθwɝd/ UK /sˈaʊθwəd/ south·ward

adv.moving or facing toward the south. You use this to describe a direction of travel or the way something points.

adv.moving, facing, or directed toward the south. Typically modifies verbs of motion or orientation.


SIMPLE

The birds fly southward for the winter.

CONTEXTUAL

After crossing the border, the hikers continued southward until they reached the edge of the forest.

COMPLEX

The expedition shifted its focus southward, hoping to find more hospitable terrain before the onset of the heavy seasonal rains.

Usage

Typically placed after the verb or at the end of the clause.

Pitfall
He lives in the southward part of townHe lives in the southern part of town

Southward describes direction of movement or orientation; southern is the adjective used to describe a fixed location.

But it soon began curving around the Arctic Ocean arriving in Iceland in the early evening before sweeping southwards to treat the UK to part of its wonder.

BBC News· 12 Aug 2026

After the water cools and becomes denser, it sinks and flows southward along the ocean floor.

ScienceDaily· 28 Jul 2026

From south + -ward.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated