towards
Contents
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From toward + -s (“forms certain adverbs, like skywards, sideways, etc.”).
Pronunciation[edit]
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /təˈwɔːdz/
- (General American) IPA(key): /tʊˈwɔɹdz/, /twɔɹdz/, /tɔɹdz/
Audio (US) (file) - Hyphenation: to‧wards
Preposition[edit]
towards
- Alternative form of toward
- 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.
- 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
Usage notes[edit]
- 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[edit]
toward — see toward
See also[edit]
Adverb[edit]
towards (not comparable)
- 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 [...].
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.iv:
Adjective[edit]
towards (not comparable)
- Near; at hand; in state of preparation; toward.
- Shakespeare
- We have a trifling foolish banquet / Towards.
- Shakespeare
Middle English[edit]
Preposition[edit]
towards
- Alternative form of towardes
References[edit]
- “towardes, (prep.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 17 April 2018.
Categories:
- English words suffixed with -s
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English 1-syllable words
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English prepositions
- English adverbs
- English uncomparable adverbs
- English adjectives
- English uncomparable adjectives
- Middle English lemmas
- Middle English prepositions