toward

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See also: towards and to-ward

English

Etymology

From Middle English toward, from Old English tōweard, equivalent to to +‎ -ward

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /tə.ˈwɔːd/, [tʰə̥ˈwɔːd]
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GenAm" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /tʊ.ˈwɔɹd/, [tʰə̥ˈwɔɹ̠d̠], [tʰw̥ɔɹ̠d̠]
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "NZ" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /tɘ.ˈwoːd/, [tʰɘ̥ˈwoːd], [tʰw̥oːd]
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)d
  • Hyphenation: to‧ward

Preposition

toward (chiefly US)

  1. In the direction of.
    She moved toward the door.
    • Bible, Numbers xxiv. 1
      He set his face toward the wilderness.
    • Template:RQ:Vance Nobody
      Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear.
    • 2019, VOA Learning English (public domain)
      China has claimed that South Korea’s dust flies toward Shanghai.
      Audio (US):(file)
  2. In relation to (someone or something).
    What are your feelings toward him?
  3. For the purpose of attaining (an aim).
    I'm saving money toward retirement.
  4. Located close to; near (a time or place).
    Our place is over toward the station.
    • (Can we date this quote by Jonathan Swift and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      I am toward nine years older since I left you.

Usage notes

  • Although some have tried to discern a semantic distinction between the words toward and towards, the only difference in practice is dialectal. Toward is more common in American English and towards is more common in British English, though each form may be found in both varieties.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Adjective

toward (not comparable)

  1. Yielding, pliant; docile; ready or apt to learn; not froward.
  2. (obsolete) Future; to-come.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, book 2, canto 4:
      ere that wished day his beame disclosd, / He either enuying my toward good, / Or of himselfe to treason ill disposd / One day vnto me came in friendly mood […]
  3. (dated) Approaching, coming near; impending; present, at hand.
    • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, King Lear, act 4, scene 6:
      Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?
    • 1843, Thomas Carlyle, “ch. XV, Practical — Devotional”, in Past and Present, book 2:
      On the morrow […] our Lord Abbot orders the Cellerarius to send off his carpenters to demolish the said structure brevi manu, and lay up the wood in safe keeping. Old Dean Herbert, hearing what was toward, comes tottering along hither, to plead humbly for himself and his mill.
  4. (obsolete or archaic) Promising, likely.
    • c. 1591, William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 3, act 2, scene 2:
      Why, that is spoken like a toward prince.
    • 1994 July 25, Jack Winter, “How I met my wife”, in The New Yorker:
      And even though I had only swerving loyalty to her, my manners couldn't be peccable. Only toward and heard-of behavior would do.

Synonyms

Anagrams

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old English tōweard, tōwærd; equivalent to to +‎ -ward.

Preposition

toward

  1. In the direction of; toward.
  2. Into the presence of.
  3. In proximity to; near, by.
  4. In an exchange or communication with; to.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Laȝamon's Brut
      Þe while þe he spac touward Goden.
  5. Having a wont or tendency towards.
  6. Similar to.
  7. Subject to; under the control of.
  8. Useful for; prepared for.

Derived terms

Descendants

  • English: toward

Adjective

toward

  1. Future, forthcoming; to come.
  2. Near at hand; imminent, nigh.
  3. Moving forth.
  4. of goodwill, benevolent; well-tempered, gentle.

Descendants

Adverb

toward

  1. In a given direction, typically toward something specific.
  2. Nearly, almost.

Derived terms

References

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