leftward

USAGE SUMMARY

"leftward" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe movement or direction toward the left side. An example is: "The bird flew leftward across the sky." Alternative expressions include "to the left" and "leftwards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Politics

Economics

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Mr Gardner has run a strong campaign in a state that has moved leftward in recent years, as more young people and Latinos have moved in.

The Economist

By small, sly moves, Mrs Merkel has inched the CDU leftward, poaching one policy after another from her centre-left rivals.

The Economist

Indeed, she has pulled the CDU leftward, partly out of conviction but also to create more coalition options and steal votes from the Social Democrats.

The Economist

Supporters of this theory often point to the unreliability of Italian exit polls, which produce results skewed leftward.

The Economist

They have greened the state's politics; along with a fast-growing Latino population they are nudging Colorado, once a Republican stronghold, leftward.

The Economist

By 1990, with "The Politics of Rich and Poor", he had already moved leftward, or rather to a personal, populist radicalism.Now he examines the excesses of the 1990s through two historical lenses.

The Economist

Israel has moved to the right as it has lost faith in Labour's message: that a negotiated land-for-peace agreement with Palestinians can bring a lasting end to conflict.That said, some rightists have moved leftward, embracing the idea that Israel cannot forever hold on to a growing and restive Palestinian population.

The Economist

Mr Ortega's margin of victory is more a result of the electoral calculus than a sign that Nicaraguans have turned leftward.

The Economist

But there is already a discernible move leftward in some microeconomic policies: a new law controlling medicine prices is in force; plans to privatise big state firms have been dropped, and the government is intervening more in business, for example by demanding the faster transfer of shares to black investors.

The Economist

As part of her strategy to modernise the CDU, she has for years moved gradually leftward.

The Economist

Conservatives add that, on the contrary, some judges use devious tricks to nudge the law leftward, such as citing foreign precedents, which can be cherry-picked from Europe.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In American English, prefer "leftward" over "leftwards" when the word functions as an adjective modifying a noun.

Common error

Do not confuse "leftward" with being "left over". While "left" can mean remaining, "leftward" is strictly directional. Additionally, ensure that when using it in a political context, you provide enough context to distinguish it from a physical movement or an economic shift.

Linguistic Context

The word "leftward" functions primarily as an adverb or an adjective. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often modifies verbs of movement (e.g., "moved", "slid") or nouns representing abstract trends (e.g., "tilt", "lurch", "shift").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Politics

10%

Economics

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "leftward" is a highly effective and grammatically correct term for describing both physical and metaphorical movement. Ludwig AI shows that it is particularly favored in political and economic discourse to signal a change in direction or ideology. Whether you are describing a bird sliding a door or a political party changing its platform, "leftward" provides a level of precision and sophistication that simpler phrases might lack. It is widely accepted in high-authority publications, particularly in the United States, and serves as a versatile tool for clear and professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to the left

A more common prepositional phrase used for general directional reference

leftwards

The British English variant, often used as an adverb

toward the left

Emphasizes the progressive nature of the movement or shift

left-leaning

Used specifically to describe political or ideological tendencies rather than physical movement

sinistrally

A technical or scientific adverb referring to the left side

westward

Commonly used as a synonym for left on a standard map orientation

portside

A nautical term specifically referring to the left side of a vessel

sinistrad

An anatomical or zoological term meaning toward the left side

counter-clockwise

Describes a rotational direction that typically involves moving left from the top

anticlockwise

The British equivalent of counter-clockwise, describing rotational movement

FAQs

How do I use "leftward" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe movement, such as "The bird pushed the door <a href="/s/leftward" target="_blank" rel="alternative">leftward", or ideological changes like a "<a href="/s/leftward+shift" target="_blank" rel="alternative">leftward shift in policy".

What is the difference between "leftward" and "leftwards"?

Generally, "leftward" is more common in American English and often used as an adjective, while "<a href="/s/leftwards" target="_blank" rel="alternative">leftwards" is a British variant typically used as an adverb.

What can I say instead of "leftward" in politics?

Depending on the nuance, you could use "<a href="/s/left-leaning" target="_blank" rel="alternative">left-leaning", "<a href="/s/progressive" target="_blank" rel="alternative">progressive" or "<a href="/s/liberal" target="_blank" rel="alternative">liberal".

What is the opposite of "leftward"?

The direct opposite is "<a href="/s/rightward" target="_blank" rel="alternative">rightward", which describes movement or shifts toward the right.