Word part · Anglo-Saxon suffix
Suffix -ward words: meaning and 18 examples
In short
The Anglo-Saxon suffix -ward (from Old English) means "in the direction of". It is also spelled wards. Words with it include upward, backward, downward, inward, outward and homeward. Wards with an s is the same suffix.
- Part
- -ward
- Meaning
- in the direction of
- Origin
- Anglo-Saxon
- Also spelled
- wards
- Words listed
- 18
Wards with an s is the same suffix. American English usually uses ward before a noun (a backward glance) and either form after an action.
Words with the Anglo-Saxon suffix -ward
The list runs from shorter, common words to longer ones. The bands are a rough guide built from syllable count and how common each word is in our word list, not a grade-level standard. Read each word, then its word sum.
Colors:prefixroot or basesuffix
Start here: short, common words (about grades 3 and 4)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| upward | up (root or base)+ward (suffix)→upward | moving toward a higher place |
| backward | back (root or base)+ward (suffix)→backward | toward the back |
| upwards | up (root or base)+wards (suffix)→upwards | toward a higher place |
| backwards | back (root or base)+wards (suffix)→backwards | toward the back, or in reverse order |
| towards | to (root or base)+wards (suffix)→towards | in the direction of |
More words: forward, forwards
Next: longer words (about grades 5 and 6)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| downward | down (root or base)+ward (suffix)→downward | moving toward a lower place |
| inward | in (root or base)+ward (suffix)→inward | toward the inside |
| outward | out (root or base)+ward (suffix)→outward | toward the outside |
| homeward | home (root or base)+ward (suffix)→homeward | heading toward home |
| eastward | east (root or base)+ward (suffix)→eastward | heading toward the east |
| westward | west (root or base)+ward (suffix)→westward | heading toward the west |
| northward | north (root or base)+ward (suffix)→northward | heading toward the north |
| southward | south (root or base)+ward (suffix)→southward | heading toward the south |
| skyward | sky (root or base)+ward (suffix)→skyward | up toward the sky |
| onward | on (root or base)+ward (suffix)→onward | moving forward, ahead |
| afterwards | after (root or base)+wards (suffix)→afterwards | at a later time |
How do you teach the suffix -ward?
Use the room. Point up and say upward, point down and say downward, and let the student point while reading the next few words: inward, outward, homeward. Compass words come next, since eastward and westward are easy to picture on a map. Show that the base always names a place or a direction, and the suffix adds the idea of heading there. Then put upward and upwards side by side and explain that both are correct.
A quick routine
Draw a quick compass on the board. Say, "Ward means in the direction of. Northward means heading north." The student reads northward, southward, eastward and westward and points the right way for each. Then read skyward, homeward and onward and act each one out. End with a sentence frame: "The bird flew ___ward." Let the student fill it two different ways.
What do students mix up with -ward?
Award, reward, awkward and the hospital ward are not built from this suffix. Take ward off award and you get a, which is not a direction. Forward is a real -ward word, but its first part is an old spelling of fore, so it looks odd. If the word does not tell which way something moves or faces, the w-a-r-d is just part of the word.
For the sounds inside these words, see the phonics word lists. Routines that fit: meanings of prefixes and suffixes, circle the parts, read the base and flexible routine for big words.
Questions people ask
What does the suffix -ward mean?
-ward means "in the direction of". It is a Anglo-Saxon suffix, also spelled wards. Wards with an s is the same suffix. American English usually uses ward before a noun (a backward glance) and either form after an action.
What are some words with the suffix -ward?
Start with upward, backward, upwards and backwards. Then move to downward and inward. This page lists 18 words in all, most with a word sum that shows the parts.
Is it backward or backwards?
Both are standard. In American English, use backward before a noun, as in a backward step, and either one after an action: walk backward or walk backwards. Afterwards and towards also keep the s often in speech.
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