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onward

C2
adverbadjective

Pronunciation

UK

  • /ˈɒnwəd/

US

  • /ˈɔnwərd/

Description

"Onward" suggests moving forward, often with purpose or steady effort. Think of a traveler going onward toward a distant town, or a group pushing onward even when the road is hard. It can sound encouraging, as in "Onward to victory!", but it can also simply describe continued movement or progress: "They walked onward through the forest."

Examples

  1. 1

    Physical movement

    The road was muddy, but we kept walking onward.

  2. 2

    Time period

    From July onward, the museum will stay open until 8 p.m.

    • Pattern

      from + time onward

      starting then and continuing after that

  3. 3

    Work progress

    After lunch, the crew pushed onward with the repairs.

  4. 4

    Air travel

    Travelers with an onward ticket can stay in the airport transit area.

    • Phrase

      onward ticket

      a ticket for the next part of a trip

  5. 5

    Encouragement

    She lost the first game, smiled, and said, "Onward and upward."

    • Phrase

      onward and upward

      used to say you will keep going and hope things improve

See also

adverbforward in direction, time, or continuing progress

Similar

Shades of meaning

Contrast

Used with (collocations)

  • move onward
  • from that day onward
  • onward and upward
  • press onward

Word family

Explore

  • progress
  • continuation

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • onwardadjectiveadverb