toward

[tawrd, tohrd, tuh-wawrd, twawrd, twohrd, tawrd, tohrd]

preposition

1. in the direction of.

   to walk toward the river.

2. with a view to obtaining or having; for.

   They're saving money toward a new house.

3. in the area or vicinity of; near.

   Our cabin is toward the top of the hill.

4. turned to; facing.

   Her back was toward me.

5. shortly before; close to.

   toward midnight.

6. as a help or contribution to.

   to give money toward a person's expenses.

7. with respect to; as regards.

   his attitude toward women.

adjective

1. about to come soon; imminent.

2. going on; in progress; afoot.

   There is work toward.

3. propitious; favorable.

4. Obsolete.

   1. promising or apt, as a student.

   2. compliant; docile.

toward

adjective

1. rare,  in progress; afoot

2. obsolete,  about to happen; imminent

3. obsolete,  promising or favourable

preposition

1. a variant of towards

Other Word Forms

• towardness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of toward¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English tōweard; equivalent to to + -ward

Word History and Origins

Origin of toward¹

Old English tōweard; see _to , _-ward

Idioms and Phrases

see go a long way toward.

Example Sentences

On social media, he employed his usual hyperbole, calling it a "historic and unprecedented event" and the "first steps toward a strong, durable and everlasting peace".

Read more on BBC

With that, a crowd that was anticipating a sweep in the early innings of Wednesday’s game filed toward the exits — trudging away with the Dodgers still leading this series, but having lost all the momentum.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"We have mathematically demonstrated that the engrams in the conceptual space tend to evolve toward a steady state, which means that after some transient period, a 'mature' distribution of engrams emerges, which then persists in time," Brilliantov commented.

Read more on Science Daily

“Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” he said.

Read more on Salon

“Been doing lots of styling and all that stuff,” she said, nodding toward a rack of clothes in the hallway of an Airbnb in the hills above West Hollywood.

Read more on Los Angeles Times