Suffix · forms adverbs and adjectives
From Old English "-weard" (direction): forms adverbs and adjectives of direction or tendency. Inward, outward, forward, wayward, awkward.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
-ward (and its variant -wards, more common in British English) comes from Old English "-weard" and forms adverbs or adjectives indicating direction or tendency. Literal directions: inward, outward, forward, backward, upward, downward, homeward, onward. Figurative uses (very literary): "an inward calm" = an inner serenity. "outward appearance" = external surface. "onward march" = unstoppable advance.
"wayward" = going its own way, wilful, difficult to control: "a wayward child." "wayward behaviour." From "away" + "ward" = moving away. C1. "awkward" = clumsy, uncomfortable, difficult. From Old Norse "afug" (turned the wrong way) + "ward": literally "going in the wrong direction". One of the most useful adjectives in everyday English. "inward" as adjective = interior, spiritual: "an inward struggle." "inward-looking" = introspective, insular (often pejorative in politics).
British English prefers the -s form: towards, afterwards, backwards, inwards, outwards. American English prefers without -s: toward, afterward, backward, inward, outward. Both forms are correct and widely understood. The difference is purely orthographic. In formal literary prose, the -ward form (without s) tends to predominate in both varieties.
Noun or place adverb + ward/-wards. Produces directional adverbs or adjectives.
awkward does not follow the productive modern pattern — it is a lexicalised word. wayward comes from "away + ward" with loss of the "a". Learn these two directly.
-ward / -wards/wərd/ · sounds like werd
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
"awkward" does not mean weird. "an awkward silence" = an uncomfortable pause. "an awkward question" = a delicate or tricky question. "I feel awkward" = I feel uncomfortable or unsure what to do.
"wayward" does not mean physically lost. "a wayward teenager" = a teenager who is hard to control. "wayward behaviour" = unpredictable and problematic conduct.
Same for: backward/backwards, inward/inwards, forward/forwards, etc. Use the variant that matches your target variety and be consistent.
A trick to remember it
-ward = direction or tendency. Key words: inward (inner), outward (outer), forward (ahead), onward (unstoppable), homeward (back home). Literary: wayward (wilful), awkward (uncomfortable). BrE prefers -wards; AmE prefers -ward.
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What does "an awkward silence" mean?
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
"Onward" implies...
The suffix -ward / -wards from Old English "-weard" (direction): forms adverbs and adjectives of direction or tendency. Inward, outward, forward, wayward, awkward. In Spanish it usually maps to hacia / interior.
The ending -ward / -wards is pronounced /wərd/ · sounds like werd. For example, "inward".
"in" becomes "inward". It is a typical example of the -ward / -wards suffix.
From Old English "-nian": turns adjectives into causative verbs meaning to make more X or to become X. Darken, enlighten, deepen, strengthen, heighten.
From Old English "-feald" (layer, fold): forms multipliers. Tenfold = ten times; manifold = multiple; twofold = double. Very common in journalism and formal prose.
From Old English "-ling": forms diminutives of young creatures, small beings or subordinate persons. Duckling, fledgling, sibling, underling, changeling.
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.