What does rightward mean?
Rightward means toward the right, and it is commonly used to describe movement, orientation, or change in that direction. A person might say that a crowd moved rightward to make room, while a navigator might describe a vessel's course as turning rightward. A related adjectival use describes something that points or moves to the right, as in a rightward shift. The word is more precise than simply saying "to the right" when the movement or orientation itself is important. Rightward is used in both British and American English, although rightwards is especially familiar in British usage. Its formation is transparent: it combines right with the directional suffix -ward, which also appears in words such as forward, backward, upward, and downward. Although straightforward, the term is useful in descriptions of spatial relationships, navigation, diagrams, and gradual changes in direction.
Toward or in the direction of the right.
"The aircraft drifted rightward while approaching the runway."
Rightwards is a standard variant, particularly common in British English.
Moving, pointing, or oriented toward the right.
"The needle showed a slight rightward drift."
This use is less common than the adverbial sense and is typically found in technical or descriptive contexts.
Rightward is a verbal arrow: it points directly toward the right.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of rightward
Rightward is an English compound formed from right and the Old English directional suffix -weard, which appears in modern English as -ward. The suffix originally expressed movement or position in a specified direction and survives in words such as forward, backward, and toward. Rightward follows the same transparent formation as forward and leftward, with right supplying the direction.
Related word forms
How rightward is actually used
Rightward is formal but readily understood. Rightwards is an equally standard alternative, particularly familiar in British English.
Easily confused with rightward
Both terms mean toward the right; rightward is especially common in American usage, while rightwards is also widely used in British English.