onward

1 of 2

adverb

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

onward

2 of 2

adjective

: directed or moving onward : 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
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
Storage space for a Ford truck key fob, which should fit any F-150 from model year 2018 onward. ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2025 This new 27-mile route will run through Armenia’s southern Syunik province, connecting Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhichevan, and from there, onward to Turkey. Narek Mkrtchyan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 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 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 19 Oct. 2025.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!