westward

1 of 2

adverb or adjective

west·​ward ˈwes-twərd How to pronounce westward (audio)
: toward the west
westwards
ˈwes-twərdz How to pronounce westward (audio)
adverb

westward

2 of 2

noun

: westward direction or part
sail to the westward

Examples of westward in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb or adjective
El Niño occurs naturally every few years, when the Pacific trade winds that typically blow westward — from the Americas to Southeast Asia — either slow down or reverse course. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026 More than five centuries ago, the son of a wool weaver from Genoa sailed westward to widen the boundaries of the known world. — Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
Put the paths of 1991, 2009 and 2027 on a globe, and the approximately 120-degree westward jump between successive members becomes immediately obvious. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Troy was the starting point of Odysseus’s calamitous 10-year westward voyage, with many detours and misadventures, to his kingdom of Ithaca. — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for westward

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1596, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of westward was before the 12th century

Rhymes for westward

See All Rhymes for westward

Browse Nearby Words

West Virginian
westward
westwardly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Westward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/westward. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

westward

1 of 2 adverb or adjective
west·​ward ˈwes-twərd How to pronounce westward (audio)
: toward the west
westwards
-twərdz How to pronounce westward (audio)
adverb

westward

2 of 2 noun
: westward direction or part
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