northward

1 of 2

adverb or adjective

north·​ward ˈnȯrth-wərd How to pronounce northward (audio)
: toward the north
northwards adverb

northward

2 of 2

noun

: northward direction or part
sail to the northward

Examples of northward in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb or adjective
The incoming storm flung enough cloud cover northward at just the right height to deliver Friday’s stunning scenes. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Fishermen who participate in Maine’s lifeblood lobster industry are on edge about what the future holds, as lobsters have inched steadily northward as waters have warmed, Cousens said. Patrick Whittle, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 The El Niño also can move warmer water northward along the Pacific Coast of the United States. USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2024 But the flows northward continue at a pace that has been mind-rattling for many Americans. Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2024 The bass spawn is a long and gradual process that starts as early as January in extreme southern regions and moves northward up the map in waves, extending well into July in the country’s northern-most states. Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 21 Feb. 2024 International mediation efforts continue for a diplomatic settlement aimed at pushing Hezbollah forces northward to the Litani River as required by UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and preventing escalation to full-scale war. Forbes International, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 The organization recommend that sky gazers face northward away from the moon and use a tree or building to block out the moonlight. Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 3 Jan. 2024 Red-winged blackbirds begin to show at feeders in larger numbers in February as flocks also move northward. Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Noun
The Sacramento Valley is expected to see strong winds, with gusts of 35 to 50 mph possible from Marysville in Yuba County northward, the weather service office in Sacramento said. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Better odds of something more substantial are generally northern Maryland and northward. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2023 One factor driving the disease’s northward creep may be climate change. Simon Makin, Scientific American, 19 Oct. 2023 Idalia could also bring a few tornadoes from the coast of west-central Florida northward into the Florida Big Bend region, the hurricane center said. Leigh Morgan, al, 30 Aug. 2023 Although Biden made firearms trafficking a priority to win Mexico’s support for slowing the northward flow of fentanyl and migration, the Mexican government did not wait on Americans to act. Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 31 July 2023 The trail stretches from the city of Pewaukee at Watertown Road near Interstate 94 northward into the city of Brookfield at River and Brookfield roads. Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2023 Nonetheless, Roland said, the beetles’ northward creep in recent years over the broad, higher-elevation area known as Broad Pass was a bit of a surprise to him. Yereth Rosen, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Aug. 2023 In general, currents push warm water northward, where a small portion becomes sea ice. Evan Bush, NBC News, 1 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'northward.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near northward

Cite this Entry

“Northward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/northward. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

northward

adverb or adjective
north·​ward
ˈnȯrth-wərd
: toward the north
northwards
-wərdz
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on northward

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