Home UK English -ward

Meaning of -ward in English:

-ward

Pronunciation /wəd/

suffix

(also -wards)

  • 1

    (also -wards)
    (forming adverbs) towards the specified place or direction.

    ‘eastwards’
    • ‘homewards’

  • 2

    (also -ward)
    (forming adjectives) turned or tending towards.

    ‘onward’
    • ‘upward’

Origin

Old English -weard, from a Germanic base meaning ‘turn’.