different between onward vs ahead

English

Etymology

on +? -ward

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??nw?d/
• (Northern US, cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /??nw?d/
• (Southern American English) IPA^(key): /??nw?d/
• Hyphenation: on?ward

Adjective

onward (comparative more onward, superlative most onward)

1. (not comparable) Moving forward.

   There was an onward rush as the gates opened.

2. Advanced in a forward direction or toward an end.

   • Within a while, Philoxenus came to see how onward the fruits were of his friend's labour.

Adverb

onward (not comparable)

1. In a forward direction.

Synonyms

• onwards

Translations

Verb

onward (third-person singular simple present onwards, present participle onwarding, simple past and past participle onwarded)

1. To keep going; to progress or persevere.

Anagrams

• Rawdon, Rowand, Wondra, arownd, draw on

English

Etymology

a- +? head

(nautical) Beyond the head (of a ship). This may have drifted into more general English usage where it is used to describe something as being 'in front of'.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??h?d/
• Rhymes: -?d
• Hyphenation: ahead

Adverb

ahead (not comparable)

1. In or to the front; in advance; onward.

2. In the direction one is facing or moving.

3. In or for the future.

4. At an earlier time.

5. Having progressed more.

Antonyms

• (nautical) astern
• behind

Hyponyms

• straight ahead

Derived terms

• ahead of time
• go-ahead

Related terms

• ahead of

Translations

Anagrams

• aahed