Onward

Onward

Adverb / Adjective · /ˈɒn.wəd/

Definition

(Adverb) in a forward direction; continuing ahead; moving or progressing from a point in time or space — used with from: from that day onward; (Adjective) directed or moving forward: the onward march of progress, the onward journey.

Origin

From on (forward, in continuation) + -ward (a suffix indicating direction, from Old English -weard, towards — the same suffix in toward, backward, upward, downward, afterward). Onward therefore meaning in the on-direction, towards what lies ahead. Related to onwards (the -s being an adverbial genitive suffix, the form standard in British English). Onward appearing from the fifteenth century. The distinction between onward and onwards being primarily one of British convention: onwards being the more common British adverb, onward being preferred in American English and in adjectival use.