Definition

1. Adverb:

   • Toward land: In the direction of the land, as opposed to the sea or water.
   • Toward the interior: In the direction of the interior from the coast or shore.

2. Adjective:

   • Facing or situated toward the land: Describing the side or aspect that looks or is directed inland.

Examples of Usage

• Adverb:

  • The storm forced the ship to turn landward. (The storm forced the ship to turn toward the land.)
  • We walked landward from the beach to find shelter. (We walked in the direction of the land from the beach to find shelter.)

• Adjective:

  • The landward side of the fort was less fortified. (The side of the fort facing the land was less fortified.)
  • They built a wall on the landward boundary of the property. (They built a wall on the boundary of the property that faces toward the interior.)

Advanced Usage

• "landward of": Located nearer to the land than something else.
  • The village is situated just landward of the dunes. (The village is located just closer to the land than the dunes are.)

Variants and Related Words

• Landwards (adverb): An alternative form of the adverb "landward," with identical meaning.

  • The birds flew landwards at sunset. (The birds flew toward the land at sunset.)

• Inland (adverb/adjective): Situated in or moving toward the interior of a country, away from the coast. (This is a close concept but not a direct variant; "inland" emphasizes being away from the coast, while "landward" emphasizes the direction of movement or orientation.)

  • They traveled inland from the port city. (They traveled away from the coast from the port city.)

Synonyms

• Shoreward: Toward the shore.
• Inshore: Toward the shore from the water.

Antonyms

• Seaward: Toward the sea.
• Offshore: Away from the shore.

Related Phrases

• The landward breeze: A breeze blowing from the sea toward the land.
  • A cool landward breeze provided relief from the heat. (A cool breeze blowing from the sea toward the land provided relief from the heat.)

Adverb

1. toward land
   • landward, miles of rough grass marshes melt into low uplands