onward
Americanadverb
-
toward a point ahead or in front; forward, as in space or time.
- Antonyms:
- backward
-
at a position or point in advance.
adjective
adjective
adverb
Usage
What does onward mean? Onward means about the same thing as forward—toward a point ahead or in the future. It can be used in the context of travel through physical space or through time, but it is perhaps most commonly used when discussing progress toward a goal. Onward can be used as either an adverb or an adjective. When used as an adverb, onward typically comes after the verb, as in We traveled onward. When onward is used as an adverb, it is interchangeable with onwards (which is only used as an adverb). It can be used to refer to all the time after a certain point, as in These records are from 1950 onward. It can also be used as a kind of command or word of encouragement meaning something like move on, as in Onward, scouts! We need to reach camp before nightfall. Onward appears in the phrase onward and upward, which is usually used in the context of progress or success. Example: If we don’t keep moving onward and innovating, we’ll never be able to compete in this market.
Related Words
See forward.
Etymology
Origin of onward
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at on, -ward
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wendy Monday, a broker at the Nashville-based Onward Real Estate, says she advertises on Zillow because “it’s the one with the most eyeballs on it.”
From Barron's • Jan. 1, 2026
There are 60 flats at the three-block complex, built in 2007, with Onward Homes receiving the service charges to pay for things like building improvements and maintenance.
From BBC • Feb. 21, 2025
The COVID-19 outbreak undercut the theatrical run of March 2020 release "Onward," which brought in an underwhelming $146.2 million worldwide.
From Reuters • Jun. 13, 2023
Bloch and Courtine co-founded a company called Onward that plans to develop a streamlined, fully integrated system.
From Science Magazine • May 24, 2023
Irian guided the Ever Onward, with one eye on the Berserker.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
