towards

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /təˈwɔːdz/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /tʊˈwɔːɹdz/, /twɔːɹdz/, /tɔːɹdz/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: to‧wards

Preposition

towards

1. 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.

Synonyms

• toward

Antonyms

• fromward, fromwards

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.

See also

• See w:Adverbial genitive

Translations

toward — see toward

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.

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923 in Project Gutenberg: really · replied · making · #375: towards · friends · forth · fire