What does northwestwards mean?
Northwestwards is an adverb meaning in or toward the northwest. It combines the directional elements “north” and “west” with the suffix “-wards,” which indicates movement toward a particular place or direction. The word is useful in descriptions of travel, weather systems, surveying, navigation, or any situation in which a diagonal bearing needs to be stated precisely. For example, a ship might sail northwestwards while storm clouds gather northwestwards of a town. Although the meaning is straightforward, the adverb is less common in everyday speech than the shorter and more widely used “northwestward.” It tends to appear in formal, literary, or descriptive contexts, especially when the direction of movement is being presented with an elegant, slightly traditional cadence.
adverbIn or toward the northwest.
- In or toward the northwest.
"The migrating birds headed northwestwards as the sun began to set."
"The expedition travelled northwestwards through the snow-covered valley."
"Clouds moved northwestwards, bringing rain from the coast."
It points diagonally: north meets west, and “-wards” supplies the destination.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does northwestwards come from?
The word is formed from the established elements “north” and “west,” both of which have Old English origins, together with the directional suffix “-wards.” The suffix ultimately comes from Old English “weard,” meaning direction or course, and survives in modern English in forms such as “forward,” “backward,” and “westward.” The compound in the sense of a direction or course developed from these older directional elements into its present form.
Related word forms
How northwestwards is actually used
Less common than “northwestward,” this form is especially associated with formal, literary, or descriptive writing about movement and direction.
Easily confused with northwestwards
Both words mean toward the northwest, but “northwestward” is the more common modern form, while “northwestwards” is more characteristic of formal or literary usage.