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.
Synonym Usage
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.
He grumbled that his allegiance cost him professionally, but the University of London employed him consistently from 1947 onward.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
"Many passengers can't get to their onward destinations from the railway station here," said BBC Essex reporter Matt Knight, who had, himself, just landed from holiday.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Historically, the effects of El Niño on Southern California’s rainfall and snowfall become more obvious from December onward, with January to March “as the prime season for impacts,” L’Heureux said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
You think you’re supposed to be doing something, but it’s possible that what you should be doing is just proceeding onward as planned.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
She crept onward, her muscles tense, looking carefully around for her company.
From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu
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.
