onwards

Onwards is an adverb used to indicate movement forward in space or progress through time, often implying continuation from a starting point. Examples include "We rode onwards" and "From this point onwards, the rules change." The related adjective onward occurs in phrases such as "the onward journey" and generally appears in American English, while the variant spelling onwards is common in British English; both originate from on + ward, signaling direction toward a goal.

In usage, onwards typically modifies verbs or clauses and is most at home in formal or narrative prose. It can be followed by a prepositional phrase indicating destination or scope, for example "onwards to the next town" or "onwards into the future." The idiom onwards and upwards conveys sustained progress. In English writing, both "onward" and "onwards" are understood, with regional preferences guiding choice. The word is frequently used in travel writing, sports commentary, and motivational contexts to denote forward movement or continued effort.