westwards

Everyday

Westwards means towards the west, the direction where the sun sets. tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons it is used for directions, maps, winds and journeys, such as settlers moving westwards across North America. Phrases: head westwards, move westwards, travel westwards.

Examples

• The ship sailed westwards across the Atlantic. tree →
• The storm is moving westwards. tree →
• Settlers travelled westwards in wagons. tree →
• The sun moves westwards across the sky during the day. tree →
• Walk westwards along the beach to find the cave. tree →
• The river flows westwards to the sea. tree →
• Then one of the feathers flew eastwards, another westwards, but the third went straight up towards the sky, though it only sped a short distance before falling to earth. tree →

Note

UK usually westwards (adverb), US westward; westward is also the adjective: a westward journey. Opposite: eastwards. The sun seems to move west because Earth spins towards the east.