outward
Americanadjective
-
proceeding or directed toward the outside or exterior, or away from a central point.
the outward flow of gold; the outward part of a voyage.
-
pertaining to or being what is seen or apparent, as distinguished from the underlying nature, facts, etc.; pertaining to surface qualities only; superficial.
outward appearances.
-
belonging or pertaining to external actions or appearances, as opposed to inner feelings, mental states, etc..
an outward show of grief.
-
that lies toward the outside; that is on the outer side; exterior.
an outward court.
-
of or relating to the outside, outer surface, or exterior.
to make repairs on the outward walls of a house.
-
pertaining to the outside of the body; external.
-
pertaining to the body, as opposed to the mind or spirit.
-
belonging or pertaining to what is external to oneself.
outward influences.
noun
-
that which is external; the external or material world.
-
outward appearance.
adverb
-
toward the outside; out.
-
visibly expressing one's inner feelings, mental state, etc.
-
away from port.
a ship bound outward.
-
Obsolete. on the outside; externally.
adjective
-
of or relating to what is apparent or superficial
-
of or relating to the outside of the body
-
belonging or relating to the external, as opposed to the mental, spiritual, or inherent
-
of, relating to, or directed towards the outside or exterior
-
(of a ship, part of a voyage, etc) leaving for a particular destination
-
-
the body as opposed to the soul
-
facetious clothing
-
adverb
-
(of a ship) away from port
-
a variant of outwards
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of outward
before 900; Middle English; Old English ūtweard. See out, -ward
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The ritual of a nation coming together to choose its path is an outward sign of the inward grace that animates self-government.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
Pest’s most touristy areas, stretching outward from Deák Ferenc Square, can seem overrun with souvenir shops, but still hold some remarkable attractions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
Located well outside the galaxy's center, it could be a remnant of an earlier merger that was pushed outward by a powerful gravitational recoil.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026
Home prices in urban Los Angeles are far more expensive than those in the suburbs, despite a shift in homebuyers moving outward from the city, Redfin data show.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026
Twelve feet below him was a half-finished concrete wall, with rebar jutting outward like blunt skewers.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
