towards

English

Etymology

From Middle English towardes, from Old English tōweardes, tōwærdes, equivalent to toward +‎ -s.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /təˈwɔːdz/, [tʰə̥ˈwɔːdz]
• (General American) IPA^(key): /tʊˈwɔɹdz/, /ˈtɔɹdz/, /ˈtoʊɚdz/, [tʰə̥ˈwɔɹ̠d̠z], [tʰw̥ɔɹ̠d̠z]
• (General New Zealand) IPA^(key): /tɘˈwoːdz/, [tʰɘ̥ˈwoːdz], [tʰw̥oːdz]

• 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 Qveene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for VVilliam Ponsonbie, OCLC 960102938, book II, canto 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.
   • c. 1591–1595, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act I, scene v]:

     We have a trifling foolish banquet towards.

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Middle English

Preposition

towards

1. Alternative form of towardes