The compass needle pointed northward as they set sail.Farmers migrated northward seeking fertile land.The flock of geese flew northward as winter ended.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Northwards
/ˈnɔːθwədz/
In the direction toward the north
Examples:
The river flows steadily northwards every spring.Birds migrate northwards as the climate warms.Cities expand northwards with new developments.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
Both northward and northwards imply movement towards the north direction.
Northward is often used when referring more generally to the direction without focusing on the process of moving.
Northwards tends to emphasize the movement or journey towards the north.
Remember that words ending in -ward can be more commonly used in American English, while -wards is often seen in British English.
The choice between the two can also be based on what sounds more natural in the context of a sentence.