poleward

American  

[pohl-werd] / ˈpoʊl wərd /

adverb

1. Also polewards. toward a pole of the earth; toward the North or South Pole.

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adjective

1. facing or moving toward the North or South Pole.

Etymology

Origin of poleward

First recorded in 1870–75; pole ² + -ward

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

poleward

In some places, the average location where tropical cyclones reach their peak intensity has shifted poleward - for example the western North Pacific.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2025

Their analysis revealed that extremely fast poleward shifting species, defined as upward of 17 kilometres per year, show marked declines in population, compared to negligible increases in populations that did not shift.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 12, 2024

But those adapted to cooler temperatures might only survive if they can shift their ranges poleward.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 1, 2023

And they’re harming marine ecosystems: bleaching coral reefs that support an estimated 25 percent of the ocean’s biodiversity; exacerbating algal blooms that trigger fish kills; and driving the poleward migration of marine species.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 14, 2023

The steep poleward pressure gradients of these southern oceans end in a trough of low pressure, girdling the earth at about the Antarctic circle.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 5 "Clervaux" to "Cockade" by Various