northward

American  

[nawrth-werd, nawr-therd] / ˈnɔrθ wərd, ˈnɔr ðərd /

adverb

1. Also northwards, northwardly. toward the north.

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adjective

1. Also northwardly. moving, bearing, facing, or situated toward the north.

noun

1. the northward part, direction, or point.

northward British  

/ ˈnɔːðəd, ˈnɔːθwəd /

adjective

1. moving, facing, or situated towards the north

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noun

1. the northward part, direction, etc; the north

adverb

1. a variant of northwards

Other Word Forms

• northwardly
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of northward

before 1100; Middle English; Old English northweard. See north, -ward

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

northward

The southeastern United States faced a high risk of flooding on Saturday as Isaias, weakened from a hurricane to a post-tropical cyclone, advanced northward from its landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast.

From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026

And then, upon reaching Georgia, they should turn around and do a traipse northward to Maine, because next season’s not looking so hot, either.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

At the same time, deeper mantle flow associated with the African Superplume may be responsible for the unusual northward deformation and the seismic signature beneath it.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 1, 2026

A change in wind direction at this time of year pulls warm, moist air northward from the Gulf of California and the tropical Pacific, triggering storms over mountainous terrain.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

Birds that should be sleeping are flying northward in flocks.

From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes