southwestward: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Literary, Technical (Geographic, Meteorological, Navigation)
Quick answer
What does “southwestward” mean?
in or toward the direction that is between south and west.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
in or toward the direction that is between south and west.
Used to describe movement, orientation, or a general location in the southwestern direction. Often implies a sense of progression or extension.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant meaning difference. The suffix '-ward' is standard in both, though '-wards' (southwestwards) is slightly more common in UK English as an adverb.
Connotations
Slightly literary or technical in both varieties. Common in weather reports, navigation, and historical/geographical descriptions.
Frequency
Low-frequency in everyday speech. Comparable frequency in written technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “southwestward” in a Sentence
The storm is moving southwestward.They continued southwestward.a frontier extending southwestwardVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “southwestward” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- The weather front is progressing southwestwards across the country.
- Following the river, they trekked southwestward for two days.
American English
- The hurricane is forecast to turn southwestward later tonight.
- Pioneers pushed the frontier steadily southwestward.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in logistics or market expansion contexts (e.g., 'The company is looking southwestward for new opportunities.').
Academic
Used in geography, history, and earth sciences to describe migration, weather patterns, or geological features.
Everyday
Uncommon. 'Towards the southwest' is preferred in casual speech.
Technical
Standard in meteorology (storm tracks), aviation, sailing, and cartography.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “southwestward”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “southwestward”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “southwestward”
- Using 'southwestwardly' (redundant).
- Confusing it with 'southwestern' (which describes a region, not a direction of movement).
- Using it as a noun in everyday contexts (e.g., 'He lives in the southwestward').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Southwestward' specifically indicates direction of movement or orientation ('moving southwestward'). 'Southwesterly' can describe both direction of movement and the origin of something coming FROM the southwest (e.g., a southwesterly wind). They are often interchangeable for direction.
Rarely in modern English. Its noun use is considered archaic or highly specialized (e.g., in historical or nautical contexts: 'the southwestward of the island'). In contemporary usage, 'the southwest' is the standard noun.
Yes, particularly in British English. The '-s' form ('southwestwards') is exclusively an adverb, synonymous with the adverb 'southwestward'. American English tends to prefer the simpler '-ward' form for both adverb and adjective.
It is moderately formal. It is standard in technical, academic, and literary writing but sounds stilted in casual conversation, where phrases like 'toward the southwest' or simply 'southwest' (as an adverb: 'head southwest') are more natural.
in or toward the direction that is between south and west.
Southwestward: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθˈwɛstwəd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθˈwɛstwərd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a compass: SOUTH + WEST + WARD (in the direction of).
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRECTION IS A PATH (moving along the path toward the southwest).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'southwestward' most appropriately used?