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Downward vs Onward - What's the difference?

downward | onward |

As adverbs the difference between downward and onward

is that downward is toward a lower level, whether in physical space, in a hierarchy, or in amount or value while onward is in a forward direction.

As adjectives the difference between downward and onward

is that downward is moving or sloping down while onward is moving forward.

downward

English

Adverb

(en-adv) (or downwards )
  • Toward a lower level, whether in physical space, in a hierarchy, or in amount or value.
    • His position in society moved ever downward .
  • * Drayton
    • Their heads they downward bent.
  • * Shakespeare
    • A ring the county wears, / That downward hath descended in his house, / From son to son, some four or five descents.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • moving or sloping down
    • He spoke with a downward glance.

    Anagrams

    *

    onward

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Moving forward.
    • There was an onward rush as the gates opened
  • Advanced in a forward direction or toward an end.
  • * Sir Philip Sidney
    • Within a while, Philoxenus came to see how onward the fruits were of his friend's labour.

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In a forward direction.
    • Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war...

    Synonyms

    * onwards

    Anagrams

    *