westward

American  

[west-werd] / ˈwɛst wərd /

adjective

1. moving, bearing, facing, or situated toward the west.

   a westward migration of farm workers.

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adverb

1. Also westwards. toward the west; west.

   a train moving westward.

noun

1. the westward part, direction, or point.

   The wind had veered to the westward.

westward British  

/ ˈwɛstwəd /

adjective

1. moving, facing, or situated in the west

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adverb

1. Also: westwards.  towards the west

noun

1. the westward part, direction, etc; the west

Other Word Forms

• westwardly
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of westward

before 900; Middle English; Old English westweard. See west, -ward

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

westward

Forecasters expect the heat dome to gradually shift westward next week, but not before millions of Americans contend with dangerous temperatures during the holiday weekend.

From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026

After the Civil War, Americans looked westward with a new sense of purpose.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

I teach my students about Didion’s ancestor, Nancy Hardin Cornwall, who trekked westward with the Donner-Reed party in 1846.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

The travellers moved on, continuing westward along the coast.

From BBC ● May 2, 2026

My father’s dream was to gather his sons around him and move westward to the land of the setting sun, to the vineyards of California.

From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya