inward

English

Etymology

From Middle English inward, from Old English inweard, corresponding to in +‎ -ward.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɪnwəd/
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈɪnwɚd/

  • Audio (California); [ˈɪ̟nwɚd]:

    (file)

• (Australia) IPA^(key): /ˈɪnwəd/
• Homophone: n-word

Adjective

inward (comparative more inward, superlative most inward)

1. Situated on the inside; that is within, inner; belonging to the inside. [from 9th c.]

   Synonyms: interior, internal

2. Not superficially obvious, inner, not expressed, especially relating to mental or spiritual faculties as opposed to external ones.

   Synonyms: inner, private

   • c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:

     Noble and milde this Perſean ſeemes to be,
     If outward habit Iudge the inward man.

3. Moving or tending toward the inside.

   Synonym: introitive

4. (archaic, of a voice) Not directed toward the outside world, and thus quiet or indistinct.

   Synonym: faint

5. (obsolete) Internal to a particular place or country; not foreign, domestic.

   Synonyms: home, inland, intranational

6. (obsolete) Secret, private, kept hidden.

   Synonyms: obfuscated, secluded, veiled; see also Thesaurus:hidden

7. (obsolete) Coming from one’s inmost or sincerest feelings; heartfelt, earnest.

   Synonyms: genuine, sincere

8. (obsolete) Intimate, closely acquainted; familiar, close. [16th–17th c.]

   Synonyms: chummy, friendly, thick

   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 3, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

     There is nothing can be added unto the daintinesse of Fulvius wives death, who was so inward with Augustus.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 19:19:

     All my inward friends abhorred me.

   • a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:

     He had had occasion, by one very inward with him, to know in part the discourse of his life.

9. (obsolete) Devoted to spiritual matters, pious, devout.

   Synonyms: devoutful, heavenly-minded, piteous; see also Thesaurus:devout

10. (obsolete, of animals) Tame.

    Synonyms: docile, domesticated

11. (obsolete, of medicines) Internal; applied through the stomach by being swallowed.

Derived terms

• direct inward dialing
• inward light
• inward-looking
• inwardly
• inwardmost
• inwardness
• inwards

Translations

on inside

• Bulgarian: вътрешен (bg) (vătrešen)
• Esperanto: internen
• Finnish: sisä- (fi), sisäinen (fi), sisäänpäin suuntautunut
• French: intérieur (fr)
• German: innere (de)
• Greek: έσω (el) m (éso), εσώτερος (el) m (esóteros)
• Kurdish:

  Central Kurdish: بەرەوژوور (berewjûr), بەرەوناو (berewnaw)

• Latin: internus, penitus
• Māori: ki roto
• Russian: вну́тренний (ru) (vnútrennij)
• Spanish: interior (es)

Adverb

inward (not comparable)

1. Towards the inside. [from 11th c.]
2. Towards one’s mind, thoughts, or internal self.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

     So much the rather, thou Celestial Light, / Shine inward.

   • 2005, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, David Kessler, On Grief and Grieving, →ISBN, page 16:

     You also may experience feelings of guilt, which is anger turned inward on yourself.

   • 2026 March 3, Christine Emba, “The Reason Gen Z Isn’t Dating”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN, archived from the original on 3 March 2026:

     By this logic, it makes more sense to turn inward than to make oneself vulnerable, to nihilistically maxx rather than actually encounter the other.

3. (obsolete) On the inside, within, inside.
4. (obsolete) In one’s mind, thoughts, or internal self.
5. (nautical) Towards home.

Synonyms

• withinward
• inwards

Antonyms

• outward
• outwards

Translations

toward the inside

• Bulgarian: навътре (bg) (navătre)
• Finnish: sisemmäs, sisemmäksi
• French: vers l'intérieur (fr)
• German: nach innen (de)
• Māori: whakaroto, ki roto
• Russian: внутрь (ru) (vnutrʹ)
• Spanish: adentro (es)
• Walloon: divintrinnmint (wa)

Noun

inward (plural inwards)

1. (obsolete, chiefly in the plural) That which is inward or within; the inner parts or organs of the body; the viscera.
   • 1653, “Twenty-five Sermons Preached at Golden Grove; Being for the Winter Half-year, […]: Sermon XII. Of Lukewarmness and Zeal; or, Spiritual Fervour. Part I.”, in Reginald Heber, editor, The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, D.D. […], volume V, London: Ogle, Duncan, and Co. […]; and Richard Priestley, […], published 1822, →OCLC, page 176:

     [T]his man is a servant of the eyes of men, and offers parchment or a white skin in sacrifice, but the flesh and the inwards he leaves to be consumed by a stranger fire.

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

     Then sacrificing, laid the inwards and their fat.

2. (obsolete, chiefly in the plural) The mental faculties or other characteristics not immediately apparent.
3. (obsolete) A familiar friend or acquaintance.
   • c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

     I was an inward of his.

References

• “inward”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• draw in, drawin', darwin, indraw, dirwan, Darwin

Middle English

Alternative forms

• inwart, ynward, inworde, inwarde, ynvarde, inword, inewarde

Etymology

From Old English inweard; equivalent to in +‎ -ward.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈinward/, /ˈinwaːrd/

Adverb

inward

1. inwards, to the interior, especially referring to:
   1. One's physical existence or body
   2. One's mental state or soul
2. While located within the inside of an entity, especially referring to:
   1. One's physical existence or body
   2. One's mental state or soul

Derived terms

• inwardes

Descendants

• English: inward
• Scots: inward

References

• “in-wā̆rd, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 12 April 2018.

Adjective

inward (superlative ynwardest)

1. inside, inward, in the interior; the following special senses exist:
   1. For the inside; internal
   2. religious, inside the mind
2. emotionally powerful, emotionally true
3. unknown, esoteric

Derived terms

• inwardly
• inwardnesse

Descendants

• English: inward
• Scots: inward

References

• “in-wā̆rd, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 12 April 2018.

Noun

inward (plural inwardes)

1. The interior of a given thing
2. innards; guts
3. reasoning, deductive ability

Descendants

• English: inward, innards

References

• “in-wā̆rd, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 12 April 2018.

Preposition

inward

1. To the inside

References

• “in-wā̆rd, prep.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 12 April 2018.

See also

• outward