-wards
Americansuffix
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 ( see ward) + -es -s 1
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.
Sales increased at an annual rate of 14.9 million units in January, down 7% from 16.1 million in the final month of 2025, according to Wards Intelligence.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 4, 2026
Her district includes downtown Houston and some of the city’s historically Black neighborhoods, including Third and Fifth Wards.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 11, 2023
Her district includes downtown Houston and some of the city’s historically Black neighborhoods, including 3rd and 5th Wards.
From Washington Times • Dec. 11, 2023
Wards were also shut at Withybush Hospital, in Haverfordwest, in August.
From BBC • Sep. 7, 2023
“It’s built to keep arcanists locked up. All meshed stone. Wards on the doors and windows.”
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
