onward

1 of 2

adverb

on·​ward ˈȯn-wərd 

ˈän-

variants or less commonly onwards

ˈȯn-wərdz 

ˈän-

: toward or at a point lying ahead in space or time : forward

onward

2 of 2

adjective

: directed or moving onward : forward

Synonyms

Adverb

• forward

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

Adverb

From the 2000s onward, Yamada ventured into new territory with period films such as The Twilight Samurai (2002), which was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars; and The Hidden Blade (2004), which played in competition at Berlin International Film Festival. —Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025

Storage space for a Ford truck key fob, which should fit any F-150 from model year 2018 onward. —ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Though using public transportation jives with the country’s Swisstainable initiative, which encourages visitors to get around without a car, Gambarogno is a bit harder to navigate as trains only run to Cadenazzo station, necessitating onward travel by bus. —Lisa Kadane, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2025

From before the Revolution onward, physical punishment or even killing were ways to enforce belonging, to mark the boundary between insiders and outsiders, and to decide who had the right to govern. —Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing onward

• onward and upward

Kids Definition

onward

1 of 2 adverb

on·​ward ˈȯn-wərd 

ˈän-

variants also onwards

-wərdz 

: 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