westward: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, literary, historical; also used in standard descriptive geography.
Quick answer
What does “westward” mean?
In a direction towards the west.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In a direction towards the west.
Involving movement, expansion, or orientation towards the west. Often carries historical or metaphorical connotations of exploration, expansion, or a destination.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major syntactic differences. 'Westward' and 'westwards' are both common in British English, with 'westwards' being slightly more frequent. American English strongly prefers 'westward' for both adverb and adjective.
Connotations
In American English, deeply associated with the historical 'Westward Expansion' and Manifest Destiny. In British English, connotations may relate more to maritime travel or historical empire.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to historical and geographical cultural narratives.
Grammar
How to Use “westward” in a Sentence
[move/travel/head/go] westward[expansion/movement/journey] (to the) westwardlie (to the) westward (of)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “westward” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They are westwardsing their trade routes. (Note: 'westward' is not a verb; this is a fabricated example to show it doesn't function as a verb.)
adverb
British English
- The storm front is moving westwards quite rapidly.
American English
- After Chicago, the highway turns westward toward Iowa.
adjective
British English
- The ship set off on its westward voyage from Portsmouth.
American English
- The pioneers continued their westward trek across the plains.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in logistics or market expansion, e.g., 'The company is looking westward for new opportunities.'
Academic
Common in historical, geographical, and literary studies, e.g., 'Analysing the socio-economic impacts of westward migration.'
Everyday
Descriptive of travel or direction, e.g., 'We drove westward to reach the coast before sunset.'
Technical
Used in meteorology (westward-moving storm), navigation, and geology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “westward”
- Using 'westwardly' (archaic/rare) instead of 'westward'.
- Using 'to westward' instead of the more standard 'to the westward' or simply 'westward'.
- Incorrect part of speech: 'We made a westwardly journey.' (Correct: 'We made a westward journey.')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct for the adverb form. 'Westward' is standard in American English and common globally. 'Westwards' is more common in British English. The adjective form is always 'westward'.
'Westward' indicates direction or movement TOWARDS the west. 'Western' describes something that is FROM, located IN, or characteristic OF the west (e.g., western Europe, a western accent).
It is neutral but leans towards formal, literary, or descriptive registers. In everyday speech, 'west' or 'to the west' is often used instead.
In the American context, 'Westward Expansion' is the most iconic usage, referring to the 19th-century movement of settlers across North America.
In a direction towards the west.
Westward: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɛstwəd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɛstwərd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Westward Ho!”
- “go west (related, but not identical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the famous phrase 'Go West, young man.' The '-ward' suffix means 'in the direction of,' so WESTward is in the direction of the West.
Conceptual Metaphor
WESTWARD IS PROGRESS/EXPANSION (in US context); WESTWARD IS THE FUTURE/DESTINATION.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'westward' correctly as an adverb?