Northward or northwards is an adverb that refers to the direction towards the north. It is commonly used to describe movement, orientation, or position in relation to the north. The term "northward" is derived from the noun "north" with the suffix "-ward," indicating movement or direction, whereas "northwards" employs the "-s" suffix, a variant used to form adverbs.
When used in a geographical sense, northward describes movement, travel, or progress towards the northern compass point. For instance, if someone is traveling from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere, it can be said that they are heading northward or northwards. Similarly, if a hiker is trekking towards a mountain range located to the north of their starting point, they are moving northward or northwards.
This adverb can also be utilized to depict the orientation or position of an object, place, or characteristic in relation to the north. In this context, northward or northwards indicates that something is situated or facing north. For example, a city located to the north of another city can be described as being northward or northwards.
Overall, northward or northwards is a versatile adverb that emphasizes movement, direction, orientation, or position towards the north, whether in a physical or metaphorical context.
