northwestward

1 of 2

adverb or adjective

north·​west·​ward nȯr(th)-ˈwes-twərd How to pronounce northwestward (audio)
: toward the northwest
northwestwards adverb

northwestward

2 of 2

noun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb or adjective
The hurricane center said some gradual development will be possible later this week while the wave heads northwestward at about 15 mph. Leigh Morgan, al, 28 June 2022 Visible Imagery acquired by the GOES-13 weather satellite early in the morning of Thursday, Oct. 6 shows the center of Hurricane Matthew moving northwestward between Andros Island to the west and New Providence Island to the east. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2016 Snow is expected to continue scattering northwestward across northern New England into Saturday morning, according to AccuWeather. Ashley R. Williams, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2022 The storms progress northwestward and almost always bring either heavy rain or snow, along with gale-force winds and rough seas, which can lead to coastal flooding. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 16 Dec. 2022 It is then expected to track northwestward across Florida before moving into southern Georgia, the hurricane center said Tuesday afternoon. Freida Frisaro And Julie Walker, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Nov. 2022 An area of low pressure could then form, and forecasters said some gradual development will be possible over the weekend as the system tracks northwestward. Leigh Morgan, al, 16 Aug. 2022 The National Weather Service says high pressure spreading northwestward from the Great Basin area of Nevada and Utah will expand into the Pacific Northwest through mid week bringing in hot weather. oregonlive, 16 Aug. 2022 The hurricane center expects that area of low pressure to meander today and then drift northwestward along the coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras this week. Leigh Morgan, al, 15 June 2022
Noun
The system is expected to move west-northwestward and be in the central Caribbean this weekend. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Sep. 2022 Thunderstorms are still churning in the Caribbean on Friday, though, and extend from the Windward Islands west-northwestward for several hundred miles. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2022 The system is located well east of Bermuda will move west-northwestward between 15 and 20 mph, the hurricane center said. Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2022 Julia or its remnants will then turn west-northwestward near the Pacific coast of Central America by Monday. Leigh Morgan, al, 8 Oct. 2022 The storm resumed a slow northwestward motion near the Virgin Islands Sunday night. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Sep. 2022 Meanwhile, forecasters say an area of low pressure located off Africa’s west coast could form into a tropical depression this week, and gradual development is possible as this system moves generally west-northwestward in the Atlantic. Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 Forecasters say an area of low pressure located off Africa’s west coast could form into a tropical depression this week, and gradual development is possible as this system moves generally west-northwestward in the Atlantic. Victoria Ballard, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Forecasters say an area of low pressure could form later this week from a tropical wave near Africa, and gradual development is possible as this system moves generally west-northwestward in the Atlantic. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'northwestward.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1758, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of northwestward was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near northwestward

Cite this Entry

“Northwestward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/northwestward. Accessed 25 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

northwestward

adverb or adjective
north·​west·​ward
nȯrth-ˈwes-twərd
: toward the northwest
northwestwards
-twərdz
adverb
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