onward
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈɒnwəd/
US
- /ˈɔnwərd/
Description
- forward
- ahead
- continuing
- advancing
- further
"Onward" suggests moving forward, often with purpose or steady effort. Think of a traveler going onward toward a distant town, or a group pushing onward even when the road is hard. It can sound encouraging, as in "Onward to victory!", but it can also simply describe continued movement or progress: "They walked onward through the forest."
"Onward" is a word for continued movement or progress in a forward direction. It is most often used as an adverb, as in "They moved onward," but it can also be an adjective, as in "the onward march of progress." The word often carries a feeling of purpose, effort, or resolve, especially in scenes of travel, struggle, or ambition. You can picture a ship sailing onward into unknown waters, or a tired group moving onward after a long day.
It appears in speeches, stories, and everyday writing when someone wants to stress that something keeps going. It can describe physical movement, as in "They drove onward toward the city," but it is also used for time and development. In a phrase like "from the 1920s onward," it means from that time forward and continuing after it. In British English, you may also see "onwards" used as an adverb, while "onward" is the usual adjective form.
Sometimes it is plain and practical, and sometimes it sounds inspiring. That is part of its strength. It does not just point ahead; it often suggests carrying on. It works well with verbs like move, march, press, drive, and go, and it helps create the sense that the action has not stopped yet.
Examples
- 1
Physical movement
The road was muddy, but we kept walking onward.
- 2
Time period
From July onward, the museum will stay open until 8 p.m.
Pattern
from + time onward
starting then and continuing after that
- 3
Work progress
After lunch, the crew pushed onward with the repairs.
- 4
Air travel
Travelers with an onward ticket can stay in the airport transit area.
Phrase
onward ticket
a ticket for the next part of a trip
- 5
Encouragement
She lost the first game, smiled, and said, "Onward and upward."
Phrase
onward and upward
used to say you will keep going and hope things improve
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- onwardadjectiveadverb