-wards

American  

1. variant of -ward.

   towards; afterwards.

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-wards British  

suffix

1. indicating direction towards Compare -ward

   a step backwards

   to sail shorewards

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Spelling

See -ward.

Usage

What does -wards mean? The suffix -wards is used to mean "in the direction of," either in time or space. It is often used in everyday and technical terms.The form -wards comes from Old English -weardes, meaning “towards.”What are variants of -wards?The suffix -wards is more common in British English. In North American English, the variant -ward, as in toward, is more commonly used. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on -ward.

Etymology

Origin of -wards

Middle English; Old English -weardes, equivalent to -weard toward ( ward ) + -es -s ¹

Example Sentences

Sascha Dua, from Dunmow in Essex, features on the Channel 5 series The Surgeon, with crews following her on the job around the wards of Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.

From BBC

Candyland was designed in 1948 to brighten spirits of children in hospital wards.

From The Wall Street Journal

It found nursing staff were regularly working additional hours, and that there was a reliance on temporary "bank" staff or staff from adult wards, who it was said "did not understand how to interact with teenagers".

From BBC

Power cuts lasting up to 18 hours a day have since affected hospital emergency wards, dialysis patients and pumping stations.

From BBC

Electricity cuts have impacted hospital emergency wards, dialysis patients, and pumping stations amid the latest supply shortfalls.

From BBC