Definition

The backward movement of a ship or boat.

Example

The captain ordered the ship to move in sternway to avoid the obstacle ahead.

Conversation

Did you see how the captain had to use the sternway to maneuver the boat yesterday?

Yeah, it was impressive how smoothly he handled it!

I thought the sternway was really interesting, especially when docking.

Absolutely! It takes a lot of skill to manage that kind of movement.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Sternway** → The word is formed from "stern" (from Old English *styrne*, meaning the rear or back of a ship) and "way" (from Old English *weg*, meaning a path or course). The term "sternway" refers to the backward movement of a ship, specifically when it is moving in reverse.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'back' of a ship ('stern') and a 'path' ('way') — together they describe the path a ship takes when moving backward.

Visually Confused Words