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
Her work reminds us that the materials and techniques employed by kinetic and program-oriented artists from the ’60s onward—mostly men—could be directed toward dramatically different ends. Marina Isgro, Artforum, 1 June 2025 Now 28 years old, Dickinson joins an emerging generation of British filmmakers who came of age against the U.K. government’s punishing austerity program of the 2010s onward, with its accompanying reduction in welfare and social services, and aren’t inclined toward a forgiving view. Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 May 2025
Adjective
Their budgets, staffing numbers, promotions and onward assignments are all controlled by their home agency, not the State Department or the ambassador. Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025 Travelers who leave the main airport building for any reason or need to collect their bags and check them in for an onward flight will pass through border control. Michelle Baran, AFAR Media, 13 Mar. 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 10 Jun. 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
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