What does "westward" mean?
The western region or countries; the west.
Westward
/ˈwɛst.wɚd/ adj, adv, name, noun
adj, adv, name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The western region or countries; the west.
- Grammar: westward is listed as adj, adv, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: westbound, westerly, cardinal points, compass card.
- Useful contrasts: east, eastbound, eastern.
- Usage evidence: Europe is not really a continent; it juts westward out of Eurasia, the continent, as India juts southward out thereof.
How to use "westward"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "westward" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "westward" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "westward" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "westward" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "westward" is acting as adj, adv, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "westbound" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "westward", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The western region or countries; the west. uncountable
"I name this to explain what I said before, of Ships being embay’d and lost here: this is when, coming from the Westward, they omit to keep a good Offing, or are taken short by contrary Winds […]"
- 2 the cardinal compass point that is at 270 degrees wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Lying toward the west.
"[…] yond same star that’s westward from the pole"
- 2 Moving or oriented toward the west.
"1783, Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, London: W. Strahan & T. Cadell, Volume 3, Chapter 17, p. 8, Those who steer their westward course through the middle of the Propontis, may at once descry the high lands of Thrace and Bithynia, and never lose sight of the lofty summit of Mount Olympus, covered with eternal snows."
Adjective
- 1 moving toward the west wordnet
Adverb
- 1 Toward the west.
"ride westward."
Adverb
- 1 toward the west wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A civil parish and small village in Allerdale borough, Cumbria, England (OS grid ref NY2744).
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Europe is not really a continent; it juts westward out of Eurasia, the continent, as India juts southward out thereof."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "westward"?
Common synonyms include: westbound, westerly, cardinal points, compass card, compass rose, degree.
How do you use "westward" in a sentence?
Europe is not really a continent; it juts westward out of Eurasia, the continent, as India juts southward out thereof.
How do you pronounce "westward"?
Pronounced /ˈwɛst.wɚd/.
Etymology
From Middle English westward, from Old English westweard.