Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Toward home; in the direction of one's home or native country: "homewards" describes movement or orientation directed to the place where one lives or originates.

Usage

• "Homewards" is used to indicate the direction of movement. It is synonymous with "homeward" (which can function as both an adverb and an adjective). The form "homewards" is more common in British English.
• It is typically used in a literary or slightly formal context. In everyday speech, phrases like "going home" or "headed home" are more common.

Examples

• Adverb:
  • After a long day at work, she turned her car homewards.
  • The migrating birds began their flight homewards for the summer.
  • With a heavy heart, he started the long walk homewards.

Advanced Usage

• "To wend one's way homewards": A literary phrase meaning to make one's way back home, often implying a slow or thoughtful journey.
  • As dusk fell, the villagers wended their way homewards.

Variants and Related Words

• Homeward (adverb & adjective): Having the same meaning as "homewards." As an adjective, it describes something related to the journey toward home.

  • Adverb: They sailed homeward.
  • Adjective: They began their homeward journey.

• Homeward-bound (adjective): In the process of going home.

  • The homeward-bound commuters filled the trains.

Synonyms

• Homeward: Toward home.
• Toward home: In the direction of home.

Related Phrases

• The homeward leg/trek/trip: Refers to the part of a journey that leads back home.
  • The homeward trek was much quicker than the outward journey.

Adverb

1. toward home
   • fought his way homeward through the deep snow