toward

American  

[tawrd, tohrd, tuh-wawrd, twawrd, twohrd, tawrd, tohrd] / tɔrd, toʊrd, təˈwɔrd, twɔrd, twoʊrd, tɔrd, toʊrd /

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.

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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 British  

adjective

1. rare in progress; afoot

2. obsolete about to happen; imminent

3. obsolete promising or favourable

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preposition

1. a variant of towards

toward Idioms  

1. see go a long way toward.

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Other Word Forms

• towardness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of toward

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

toward

Mortgage rates are ticking back up toward 7%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

If they grew larger, the system moved toward instability.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

The claims are "always vague", the person said, adding that when they sound specific, they tend toward major jumps in reasoning or hypothetical circumstances.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

Lynn looked toward the ground and was eyeing Highland or Los Feliz for a makeshift landing spot.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

She walks toward the front of the building, where coordinating green picnic tables sit beneath a canopy, with vehicles parked on either side.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith