outward

American  

[out-werd] / ˈaʊt wərd /

adjective

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. belonging or pertaining to external actions or appearances, as opposed to inner feelings, mental states, etc..

   an outward show of grief.

4. that lies toward the outside; that is on the outer side; exterior.

   an outward court.

5. of or relating to the outside, outer surface, or exterior.

   to make repairs on the outward walls of a house.

6. pertaining to the outside of the body; external.

7. pertaining to the body, as opposed to the mind or spirit.

8. belonging or pertaining to what is external to oneself.

   outward influences.

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noun

1. that which is external; the external or material world.

2. outward appearance.

adverb

1. toward the outside; out.

2. visibly expressing one's inner feelings, mental state, etc.

3. away from port.

   a ship bound outward.

4. Obsolete. on the outside; externally.

outward British  

/ ˈaʊtwəd /

adjective

1. of or relating to what is apparent or superficial

2. of or relating to the outside of the body

3. belonging or relating to the external, as opposed to the mental, spiritual, or inherent

4. of, relating to, or directed towards the outside or exterior

5. (of a ship, part of a voyage, etc) leaving for a particular destination

6. 1. the body as opposed to the soul

   2. facetious clothing

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adverb

1. (of a ship) away from port

2. a variant of outwards

noun

1. the outward part; exterior

Other Word Forms

• outwardness noun

Etymology

Origin of outward

before 900; Middle English; Old English ūtweard. See out, -ward

Example Sentences

The dam, which is 30% complete, was meant to be an architectural centerpiece—bowing outward, in defiance of standard engineering in which dams arc inward.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Cuba has an ageing population, a very low birth rate and huge outward migration.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

It becomes the dish’s first layer of seasoning — not something added at the end, but something that seeps outward.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

This steady stream of charged particles flowing outward from the Sun has gradually eroded Mars' atmosphere over billions of years.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

Normally, when something makes a wave, the wave travels outward, gradually spreading out and losing strength, like the waves moving away from a pebble dropped into a pond.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

Related Words

• apparent
• noticeable