Words ending
in -ward.

after → afterward

At a later time.

“We played football and had lunch afterward.”

No common root word

Clumsy, or uncomfortable and embarrassing.

“There was an awkward silence after the joke.”

back → backward

Toward the back, or the opposite way from usual.

“He took a step backward.”

down → downward

Toward a lower place.

“The path sloped downward to the beach.”

east → eastward

Toward the east.

“The ship sailed eastward.”

No common root word

Toward the front, or ahead.

“Please step forward when your name is called.”

home → homeward

Toward home.

“At sunset the cows headed homeward.”

in → inward

Toward the inside.

“The door opens inward.”

north → northward

Toward the north.

“Geese fly northward in spring.”

on → onward

Forward, or further on.

“After lunch the hikers went onward up the hill.”

out → outward

Toward the outside.

“The ripples spread outward across the pond.”

sea → seaward

Toward the sea.

“The wind blew seaward.”

sky → skyward

Toward the sky.

“The rocket shot skyward.”

south → southward

Toward the south.

“The birds flew southward for the winter.”

No common root word

In the direction of.

“The dog ran toward the ball.”

up → upward

Toward a higher place.

“The balloon floated upward.”

No common root word

Doing what you want, not what you are told or what is expected.

“The wayward puppy ran off again.”

west → westward

Toward the west.

“The wagons rolled westward across the plains.”

wind → windward

Facing the wind, or the side that faces the wind.

“The trees on the windward side of the hill were bent.”