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.
From the 1790s onward, parades, speeches and public readings of the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth became a kind of political ritual all across America.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026
Ministers also want 55% of short trips to be active by 2035 - including what is described as a "stage" of a journey, such as walking or cycling to onward public transport.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
The emotional intensity of the moment dissolves, the wounds heal, and time marches onward.
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
That day, babies born from 2025 onward will start to receive their $1,000 contribution from the government pilot program that runs through 2028.
From Barron's • May 28, 2026
Curron, Aaron, and even Mikey were at the edge of the track, punching at the air with their fists, urging Krystal onward.
From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds
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.
