inward

American  

[in-werd] / ˈɪn wərd /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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adverb

1. a variant of inwards

noun

1. the inward part; inside

Other Word Forms

• inwardness noun

Etymology

Origin of inward

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

Example Sentences

But most of the onetime gentry, like Lajos, burrow further inward.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

While McIlroy was travelling on one of golf's most dramatic rollercoaster rides, Rose slotted putt after putt, especially on the inward half.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

During this active phase, known as a quasar, gas and dust form a spinning disk around the black hole, releasing enormous amounts of energy as it falls inward.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

While many people in your position might solely be looking inward, you are also looking the opposite direction.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 20, 2026

He discovered it was ten times as high as it was in the open air: apparently the metal body, reflecting the radioactivity inward from six directions, concentrated the rays more than anyone had anticipated.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien

Related Words

• inbound