inward

[in-werd]

adverb

1. toward the inside, interior, or center, as of a place, space, or body.

2. into or toward the mind or soul.

   He turned his thoughts inward.

3. Obsolete.

   1. on the inside or interior.

   2. in the mind or soul; mentally or spiritually.

adjective

1. proceeding or directed toward the inside or interior.

2. situated within or in or on the inside; inner; internal.

   an inward room.

3. pertaining to the inside or inner part.

4. located within the body.

   the inward parts.

5. pertaining to the inside of the body.

   inward convulsions.

6. inland.

   inward passage.

7. mental or spiritual; inner.

   inward peace.

8. muffled or indistinct, as the voice.

9. private or secret.

10. closely personal; intimate.

11. Archaic.,  pertaining to the homeland; domestic.

noun

1. the inward or internal part; the inside.

2. inwards, the inward parts of the body; entrails; innards.

inward

/ ˈɪnwəd /

adjective

1. going or directed towards the middle of or into something

2. situated within; inside

3. of, relating to, or existing in the mind or spirit

   inward meditation

4. of one's own country or a specific country

   inward investment

adverb

1. a variant of inwards

noun

1. the inward part; inside

Other Word Forms

• inwardness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inward¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English inweard. See in, -ward

Example Sentences

China’s macro backdrop helps explain the turn inward.

Read more on Barron's

These assaults make Jews more concerned about their safety and perhaps more likely to turn inward in their communities.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“It’s so fragmented now and there’s that emotional side of things; of wanting to turn inward and be comforted.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

External ritual gave way to interior experience, and this inward turn, Mr. Persico tells us, effected “one of the most momentous revolutions” in the history of the West.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This allows keepers to get down quickly but, in practice, the inward movement of the foot takes the keeper away from the corner of the goal.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• inbound