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northwestward

American  
[nawrth-west-werd, nawr-west-werd] / ˌnɔrθˈwɛst wərd, ˌnɔrˈwɛst wərd /

adverb

  1. Also northwestwardly. toward the northwest.


noun

  1. the northwest.

northwestward British  
/ ˌnɔːθˈwɛstwəd, ˌnɔːˈwɛstwəd /

adjective

  1. towards or (esp of a wind) from the northwest

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a direction towards or area in the northwest

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • northwestwardly adjective

Etymology

Origin of northwestward

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; northwest, -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.

Some piers sheltered from the typical northwestward storm now get barraged from all angles.

From Los Angeles Times

As rich moisture surged northwestward, the outlook was “already very unstable,” said Ryan Jewell, a forecaster at the Weather Prediction Center of the Weather Service.

From New York Times

It was forecast to move away from the northern Philippines on Thursday and barrel northwestward to graze past Taiwan’s southwestern coast before hitting southeastern China later this week.

From Washington Times

It was forecast to move away from the northern Philippines on Thursday and barrel northwestward toward the south of Taiwan and hit southeastern China later this week.

From Seattle Times

The crust and mantle that comprise the Pacific Plate cracks at different places as it moves northwestward.

From Scientific American