adverb B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

northward

NAWTH-wuhd

Northward (adverb) means Toward the north. Example: “The ship sailed northward through icy waters.”

adverb

Toward the north.

"The ship sailed northward through icy waters."

adjective

Facing or moving toward the north.

"They took the northward road out of the valley."

How to use northward

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMoving or facing in the direction of the north.

Common pairings

head northward push northward

more northward comparative, more northward comparative, most northward superlative, most northward superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The ship sailed _____ through icy waters.

From "north" plus "-ward," a suffix meaning "in the direction of."

north northerly northwards

north union northern northerly northwards

What does “northward” mean?

The word “northward” means toward the north. In plain terms, moving or facing in the direction of the north.

How do you pronounce “northward”?

“Northward” is pronounced NAWTH-wuhd (/ˈnɔɹθwɚd/ in IPA).

How do you use “northward” in a sentence?

Here is “northward” used in a sentence: “The ship sailed northward through icy waters.”

What part of speech is “northward”?

Depending on how it is used, “northward” can be an adverb and an adjective.

Is “northward” a common word?

“Northward” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “northward” have?

“Northward” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: toward the north.

north union northern northerly northwards