onward

1 of 2

adverb

on·​ward ˈȯn-wərd How to pronounce onward (audio)
ˈän-
variants or less commonly onwards
Synonyms of onwardnext
: toward or at a point lying ahead in space or time : forward

onward

2 of 2

adjective

: directed or moving onward : forward

Synonyms of onward

Examples of onward in a Sentence

Adverb They have lived in that house from 1983 onward. we must continue to move onward, or we will die in this desert
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
On dry land, trucking and logistics costs range from $4,000 to $9,000 per container to move goods onward to the UAE, Cabral added. Eleni Giokos, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026 That handful of disruption from Buzelis wasn’t enough to slow the slew of offensive firepower from the Lakers, which only gained momentum as the game grinded onward. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
As this year’s awards season has marched mercilessly onward, one of the biggest questions hinged on which film would walk away with Best Picture. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 15 Mar. 2026 The rest of the team departed Sydney Tuesday for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, before an onward journey to Iran. Christina MacFarlane, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onward

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of onward was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Onward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onward. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

onward

1 of 2 adverb
on·​ward ˈȯn-wərd How to pronounce onward (audio)
ˈän-
variants also onwards
: toward or at a point lying ahead in space or time : forward
kept moving onward

onward

2 of 2 adjective
: directed or moving onward
the onward march of time

More from Merriam-Webster on onward

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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