westwardly

Westwardly is an adverb that describes movement or direction towards the west. It is the opposite of eastwardly. This term is often used in contexts involving geographical exploration, migration, or the general direction of travel. For instance, one might say a river flows westwardly, or that settlers moved westwardly across a continent. The "-ly" suffix transforms the cardinal direction "west" into an adverb indicating motion. It suggests a gradual or general tendency in that direction, rather than a precise, perpendicular movement. While "west" can also be used as an adverb, "westwardly" often implies a less direct or more encompassing movement towards the western part of a region or area. The word is useful for describing general trends or flows, such as weather patterns or the spread of certain phenomena.