towards

English

Etymology

From toward +‎ -s (“forms certain adverbs, like skywards, sideways, etc.”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /təˈwɔːdz/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /tʊˈwɔɹdz/, /twɔɹdz/, /tɔɹdz/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: to‧wards

Preposition

towards

1. Alternative form of toward

   Synonym: toward

   Antonyms: fromward, fromwards

   • 1835, Sir John Ross, Sir James Clark Ross, Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-west Passage …, Volume 1, pp.284-5

     Towards the following morning, the thermometer fell to 5°; and at daylight, there was not an atom of water to be seen in any direction.

   • 2011 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Everton 0-2 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:

     But with Goodison Park openly directing its full hostility towards Atkinson, Liverpool went ahead when Carroll turned in his first Premier League goal of the season after 70 minutes.

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.

Translations

toward — see toward

See also

• See w:Adverbial genitive

Adverb

towards (not comparable)

1. In the direction of something (indicated by context).
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.iv:

     Thus as he spake, lo far away they spyde / A varlet running towards hastily [...].

Adjective

towards (not comparable)

1. Near; at hand; in state of preparation; toward.
   • Shakespeare

     We have a trifling foolish banquet / Towards.

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Middle English

Preposition

towards

1. Alternative form of towardes

References

• “towardes, (prep.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 17 April 2018.