What does skyward mean?
Skyward is an adverb meaning toward the sky or upward into open air. It is especially common in literary and descriptive writing, where it gives movement a dramatic, spacious quality: a plane climbing skyward, smoke drifting skyward, or a person looking skyward. Because skyward identifies a particular upward direction rather than simply any increase in height, it suggests openness, height, aspiration, or escape. The less common adjectival use appears before a noun, as in a skyward flight or skyward gaze. In formal contexts, the word can sound elevated or poetic, while plain upward is often more neutral. Across British and American English, skyward is understood, though it may sound more literary in everyday conversation. For writers seeking a concise but vivid directional term, skyward is useful because it ties the motion directly to the sky rather than relying on the more general upward.
Toward or up into the sky.
"The smoke drifted skyward and dissolved against the evening sky."
This is the principal and most common use of the word.
Directed toward or into the sky.
"The eagle maintained its skyward course despite the strong wind."
The adjectival use is much less common than the adverbial use and is chiefly literary.
In skyward, the directional suffix -ward means “in the direction of,” giving the word a precise picture of movement toward the sky.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does skyward come from?
Skyward is an English compound of sky and the directional suffix -ward, which means “in the direction of.” Sky descends from Old English ský, while -ward is based on Old English weard, an element still visible in words such as homeward and seaward. The compound has been in use since the medieval period and is now encountered chiefly in literary and descriptive English.
Related word forms
How skyward is actually used
Skyward is literary and descriptive rather than strictly formal. It is more focused than the neutral upward because it specifically evokes movement or orientation toward the sky, often suggesting height, openness, aspiration, or drama. The adjectival use is much less common than the adverbial use.
Easily confused with skyward
Skyward is the standard form in both British and American English, while skywards is a less common variant, especially associated with British usage.