northwestward

1 of 2

adverb or adjective

north·​west·​ward nȯr(th)-ˈwes-twərd How to pronounce northwestward (audio)
: toward the northwest
northwestwards adverb

northwestward

2 of 2

noun

Examples of northwestward in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb or adjective
Flowing northwestward through the Appalachian Mountains, the river can be easily accessed from Chattanooga. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2024 If the storm system’s center tracks farther inland, a ribbon of warm, moist air may be dragged northwestward across the Outer Banks and the southern Delmarva. Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023 It was forecast to move away from the northern Philippines on Thursday and barrel northwestward to graze past Taiwan’s southwestern coast before hitting southeastern China on Friday. Jim Gomez, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2023 The storm is expected to continue to drift northwestward in coming days and track along the coastline before turning to the northeast and dissipating near the northern Yellow Sea, according to Wednesday morning’s forecast discussion from the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Karina Tsui, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 At the start of the infrared view, Lekima whirls northwestward, looking all the world like a buzzsaw aimed at Ishigaki Island, home to one of Japan’s southernmost cities. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2019 The storm was battering Laguna province Saturday night with sustained winds of 95 kilometers (59 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 160 kph (99 mph) and moving northwestward — just south of the densely populated capital Manila, which had been forecast for a direct hit until the storm turned. Jim Gomez, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2022 The hurricane center said some gradual development will be possible later this week while the wave heads northwestward at about 15 mph. Leigh Morgan, al, 28 June 2022 Visible Imagery acquired by the GOES-13 weather satellite early in the morning of Thursday, Oct. 6 shows the center of Hurricane Matthew moving northwestward between Andros Island to the west and New Providence Island to the east. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2016
Noun
The system is expected to move west-northwestward and be in the central Caribbean this weekend. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Sep. 2022 Thunderstorms are still churning in the Caribbean on Friday, though, and extend from the Windward Islands west-northwestward for several hundred miles. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2022 The system is located well east of Bermuda will move west-northwestward between 15 and 20 mph, the hurricane center said. Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2022 Julia or its remnants will then turn west-northwestward near the Pacific coast of Central America by Monday. Leigh Morgan, al, 8 Oct. 2022 The storm resumed a slow northwestward motion near the Virgin Islands Sunday night. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Sep. 2022 Meanwhile, forecasters say an area of low pressure located off Africa’s west coast could form into a tropical depression this week, and gradual development is possible as this system moves generally west-northwestward in the Atlantic. Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 Forecasters say an area of low pressure located off Africa’s west coast could form into a tropical depression this week, and gradual development is possible as this system moves generally west-northwestward in the Atlantic. Victoria Ballard, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Forecasters say an area of low pressure could form later this week from a tropical wave near Africa, and gradual development is possible as this system moves generally west-northwestward in the Atlantic. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Sep. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'northwestward.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1758, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of northwestward was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near northwestward

Cite this Entry

“Northwestward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/northwestward. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

northwestward

adverb or adjective
north·​west·​ward
nȯrth-ˈwes-twərd
: toward the northwest
northwestwards
-twərdz
adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!