The word "onward" is spelled /ˈɒnwəd/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The "o" is pronounced with an open-mid back rounded vowel sound /ɒ/, like the "o" in "hot" or "rock." The "n" is pronounced with a nasal sound /n/. The "w" is pronounced with a labial-velar approximant sound /w/, where the lips round and the back of the tongue comes close to the soft palate. The final "ard" is pronounced with a schwa sound /ə/ followed by a flap or tap of the tongue against the alveolar ridge /d/.
Onward is an adverb that refers to a direction or movement towards a particular point in space or time. It signifies progression, advancement, or continuation in a forward manner. When used in relation to physical movement, onward suggests a forward motion, as though journeying or traveling towards a destination. It can also denote the continuation of a journey or task without stopping or pausing.
In a metaphorical or abstract sense, onward pertains to the continuing progress, development, or advancement of a situation, idea, or concept. It implies a forward-looking mindset, perseverance, and the ability to move past obstacles or challenges. Onward also carries connotations of courage, determination, and resilience, as it often represents a call to keep pressing forward and not be discouraged by setbacks or failures.
Furthermore, onward can be used to express the passing of time, indicating that something will happen or continue from a specific point onwards. It suggests a future orientation, with a focus on what lies ahead.
Overall, the term onward encapsulates the idea of continuous forward movement, both in physical and metaphorical senses, and often implies a sense of determination, resilience, and progress towards a specific goal or destination.
• Increased; advanced; progressing; improved; leading forward.
• Towards a state of advanced progression; a little farther or forward.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "onward" is derived from the Old English word "onweard", which is a compound of "on", meaning "in a forward direction", and "weard" meaning "toward". Over time, "onweard" evolved into "onward", maintaining the same meaning of advancing or moving forward.