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/, [tʰə̥ˈwɔɹ̠d̠z], [tʰw̥ɔɹ̠d̠z]
- (New Zealand) IPA(key): /tɘˈwoːdz/, [tʰɘ̥ˈwoːdz], [tʰw̥oːdz]
Audio (US) (file) - Hyphenation: to‧wards
Preposition
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
- 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
Adverb
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
towards (not comparable)
- Near; at hand; in state of preparation; toward.
- (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- We have a trifling foolish banquet / Towards.
- (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
Middle English
Preposition
towards
- Alternative form of towardes
References
- “towardes, (prep.)”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 17 April 2018.
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