1. backward movement of a ship or boat
Usage: nautical

Examples

• The captain ordered the engines to reverse, giving the ship sternway to back away from the dock.
• Strong currents caused the vessel to lose headway and begin making sternway.
• The tugboat used sternway to position itself properly for the towing operation.
• Without power, the sailboat drifted with sternway in the wind.
• The pilot carefully controlled the ship’s sternway while maneuvering in the narrow channel.
• Emergency procedures required the crew to use sternway to avoid the collision.