WordGarden.ioonwards
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈɒnwədz/
US
- /ˈɑnwərdz/
Meanings
Adverb
forward from a point; continuing ahead
from that point forward in time
Beyond the definition
"Onwards" suggests movement forward—not only in space, but also in time or progress. You might picture a traveler moving onwards through the rain, or hear someone say, "From this point onwards," to mean that from now on, something continues in a new way. The word often gives a feeling of continuing without stopping.
It is often used when people talk about carrying on, moving ahead, or looking to what comes next. While "forward" is close in meaning, "onwards" can sound a little more formal or more full of drive. It works as an adverb of direction or continuation: "The scouts marched onwards."
"Onwards" is a word for movement or progress ahead. It can describe someone or something going farther in a physical direction, but it is also often used for time, change, or continued effort. A group may march onwards along a road, a journey may continue onwards after a delay, and a speaker may say, "From 2010 onwards," to mean from that time and after.
The word often appears in writing or speech that has a sense of motion, purpose, or encouragement. Someone might cry, "Onwards!" to urge others to keep going. In many cases, though, it is much more ordinary and simply means "from then on" or "further ahead," as in "The policy stayed in place from that year onwards." In this use, it does not have to sound heroic or emotional.
"Onwards" is especially useful because it joins the ideas of direction and continuation. It can point to what lies ahead in space, to what happens next in time, or to the act of continuing after a pause or difficulty. It is a little less common in everyday conversation than "forward," but it remains natural and clear, especially in phrases like "move onwards," "and onwards," and "from this point onwards."
Examples
- 1
Walking
The path was muddy, but we kept walking onwards.
- 2
Travel
After a short stop in York, they travelled onwards to Edinburgh.
- 3
Opening hours
The cafe is open from 8 a.m. onwards.
- Patternfrom + time onwards
starting at that time and continuing after it
- 4
Changed habit
From that day onwards, he checked every email twice before sending it.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Age eligibility
Children aged five onwards can join the beginner class.
- Patternaged + number onwards
that age and older
- 6
Business growth
Business was slow at first, but from spring onwards, orders started to grow.
- 7
Encouragement
We lost the first match, but onwards and upwards.
- Phraseonwards and upwards
said when you want to stay positive and keep improving
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- henceforth
- forth
- from now on
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- from now onwards
- from then onwards
- move onwards
- onwards and upwards
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- onwardsadverb