-wards

1. variant of -ward.

   towards; afterwards.

-wards

suffix

1. indicating direction towards Compare -ward

   a step backwards

   to sail shorewards

Spelling Note

See -ward.

Word History and Origins

Origin of -wards¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of -wards¹

Old English -weardes towards

Example Sentences

In one patch of blue canvas shelters, some 60 doctors, nurses and pharmacists have assembled what passes for a clinic: a makeshift pharmacy, a rudimentary laboratory and tents used as short-stay wards.

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Though only sixteen years old, she was an experienced and capable governess, previously employed at Ashton Place, where she had cared for the three wards of Lord Fredrick Ashton.

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Even Simon Harley-Dickinson must have wondered, from his ever-changing position in the theatrical firmament: What had become of Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia Incorrigible, the three wards of Lord Fredrick Ashton, of Ashton Place, England?

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“Do not listen, little future person! Behaving like a wild animal is all very well for your father’s wolfish wards, but it will never do for the heir to this great estate!”

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“The master of this house pays you to keep a close eye on his wards, you incompetent! Do you have any idea how much is at stake should they wander off?”

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When To Use

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.