Westward means toward the west, the direction where the sun sets. If you're facing north, westward is to your left. A flock of geese flying westward in autumn is heading in that direction, just as a ship sailing westward from Europe eventually reaches the Americas.

In American history, “westward” carries special meaning. For much of the 1800s, Americans moved westward across the continent, leaving crowded eastern cities to settle new territories. Pioneers traveled westward in covered wagons along trails like the Oregon Trail, seeking land, opportunity, and new lives. This massive migration is often called westward expansion.

The word works as both an adjective and an adverb. You might describe a westward journey (adjective) or say that pioneers traveled westward (adverb). The phrase “go west” became associated with seeking fortune and fresh starts, which is why newspaper editor Horace Greeley famously advised young Americans to “Go West, young man.”

Today, when we talk about traveling westward, we usually just mean the direction on a compass. But the word still carries echoes of exploration, movement, and the idea of heading toward something new.