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Synonyms

westward

American  
[west-werd] / ˈwɛst wərd /

adjective

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

    a westward migration of farm workers.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. Also: westwards.  towards the west

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of westward

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

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.

See Examples For:

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

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

A fourth vessel, the Madagascar-flagged tanker Murlikishan, meanwhile crossed the strait westward into the Gulf on Tuesday morning through the Larak Island route.

From Barron's Apr. 14, 2026

They moved westward early, and roamed over Eriador as far as Weathertop while the others were still in the Wilderland.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

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