-wards

American  

1. variant of -ward.

   towards; afterwards.

---

-wards British  

suffix

1. indicating direction towards Compare -ward

   a step backwards

   to sail shorewards

---

Spelling

See -ward.

Usage

What does -wards mean? The suffix -wards is used to mean "in the direction of," either in time or space. It is often used in everyday and technical terms.The form -wards comes from Old English -weardes, meaning “towards.”What are variants of -wards?The suffix -wards is more common in British English. In North American English, the variant -ward, as in toward, is more commonly used. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on -ward.

Etymology

Origin of -wards

Middle English; Old English -weardes, equivalent to -weard toward ( ward ) + -es -s ¹

Example Sentences

There are concerns over the water supply at Londonderry's biggest hospital with one patient saying staff have been distributing bottled water in wards.

From BBC

"We are taking significant steps to improve how NHS organisations recognise and respond to sepsis, including the use of National Early Warning Scores, new safety information for patients and families, and rolling out Call4Concern in all inpatient wards," a government spokesperson added.

From BBC

Some health boards have had to close wards and restrict visiting, with most asking people to wear masks.

From BBC

Sales increased at an annual rate of 14.9 million units in January, down 7% from 16.1 million in the final month of 2025, according to Wards Intelligence.

From MarketWatch

"We were understaffed - that's generally true in most departments on most wards on the NHS," he said.

From BBC