southwestward

[ south-west-werd; Nautical sou-west-werd ]

adverb

1. Also southwestwards. toward the southwest.

adjective

1. facing or tending toward the southwest.
2. coming from the southwest, as a wind.

noun

1. the southwest.

southwestward

/ ˌsaʊθˈwɛstwəd; ˌsaʊˈwɛstwəd /

adjective

1. from or towards the southwest

adverb

1. a variant of southwestwards

noun

1. a direction towards or area in the southwest

Derived Forms

• ˌsouthˈwestwardly, adjectiveadverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of southwestward¹

First recorded in 1540–50; southwest + -ward

Example Sentences

The weather threat extends southwestward across parts of Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Arkansas.

From Seattle Times

That risk for a few dry thunderstorms wraps southwestward into northern California, where sporadic lightning strikes could ignite blazes.

From Seattle Times

Four lengthy dry periods that occurred between 6.25 million and 8.75 million years ago likely drove those creatures to migrate southwestward into Africa, Böhme and her colleagues reported last month in Communications Earth & Environment.

From Science Magazine

Heavy rainfall could lead to flooding across Missouri to southern Illinois and parts of eastern Kentucky southwestward into south Mississippi, said Bob Smerbeck, Accuweather senior meteorologist.

From Washington Times

When the Trojans had taken leave of their kind hosts and had successfully rounded the eastern tip of Italy, they kept on sailing southwestward around Sicily with all confidence in their prophetic guide.

From Literature