Definition

In the direction of the earth or ground.

Example

The bird flew earthward as the storm approached.

Conversation

Did you see that meteor shower last night?

Yeah, it was amazing! They were falling earthward so fast.

I couldn't believe how bright they were as they shot down.

Right? It felt like they were just zooming straight to the ground.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Earthward → It is formed from "earth" (from Old English *eorþe*, meaning the ground or soil) and "-ward" (meaning in the direction of). The word "earthward" means in the direction of the earth or towards the ground.

Memory Tip

Think of moving 'towards' ('-ward') the 'ground' ('earth') — that's why earthward means heading in the direction of the earth.

Visually Confused Words