poleward
adverb or adjective
pole·ward
ˈpōl-wərd 
: toward or in the direction of a pole of the earth
as the sun moves poleward
poleward variation in temperature
Examples of poleward in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even though the suitable water temperatures for corals are forecast to expand poleward by about 25 miles (40 kilometers) per decade, corals would face other challenges in new environments.
—
Noam Vogt-Vincent, The Conversation, 6 June 2025
The unprecedented polar bloom represents an evolving public health threat, says Christopher Gobler, an ecologist at Stony Brook University who published a 2017 study showing ocean warming has expanded the range of harmful algal blooms poleward in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans.
—Bymegan Gannon, science.org, 16 July 2024
In a few places, including Australia and Japan, coral appear to be migrating poleward, beginning to occupy new places.
—Catrin Einhorn, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Other scientists say further research is required, questioning whether there’s evidence for a shift poleward and, if there is one, the cause of it.
—Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2023
Researchers found that more intense storms brought on by climate change would expose millions more properties to wind damage in the next 30 years, particularly as tropical cyclone winds penetrate farther inland and as storms migrate poleward up the East Coast.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2023
In contrast, the larger numbers of whales in the southwest Pacific Ocean are heading poleward at certain times of the year, suggesting krill are still plentiful in that ocean basin.
—Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 27 Feb. 2023
Normally, when hurricanes get above 30 degrees North in latitude, they get pulled poleward by the westerly pattern in the atmosphere between the tropics and poles.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 12 Sep. 2018
During warming events when southern waters move poleward, especially those related to El Niño, countless crustaceans ride currents up to southern and central California.
—Elaina Zachos, National Geographic, 12 June 2018
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Noam Vogt-Vincent, The Conversation, 6 June 2025
The unprecedented polar bloom represents an evolving public health threat, says Christopher Gobler, an ecologist at Stony Brook University who published a 2017 study showing ocean warming has expanded the range of harmful algal blooms poleward in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans.
—Bymegan Gannon, science.org, 16 July 2024
In a few places, including Australia and Japan, coral appear to be migrating poleward, beginning to occupy new places.
—Catrin Einhorn, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Other scientists say further research is required, questioning whether there’s evidence for a shift poleward and, if there is one, the cause of it.
—Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2023
Researchers found that more intense storms brought on by climate change would expose millions more properties to wind damage in the next 30 years, particularly as tropical cyclone winds penetrate farther inland and as storms migrate poleward up the East Coast.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2023
In contrast, the larger numbers of whales in the southwest Pacific Ocean are heading poleward at certain times of the year, suggesting krill are still plentiful in that ocean basin.
—Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 27 Feb. 2023
Normally, when hurricanes get above 30 degrees North in latitude, they get pulled poleward by the westerly pattern in the atmosphere between the tropics and poles.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 12 Sep. 2018
During warming events when southern waters move poleward, especially those related to El Niño, countless crustaceans ride currents up to southern and central California.
—Elaina Zachos, National Geographic, 12 June 2018
Cite this Entry
“Poleward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poleward. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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