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

Zhu believes workplaces are steadily moving toward an AI native future where AI systems are fully woven into daily tasks and processes rather than functioning as separate tools.

From Science Daily • May 25, 2026

You “yes, and…” your way toward something unexpectedly wonderful.

From Salon • May 25, 2026

In a companywide memo the day before the new tracking policy, Bosworth told employees that Meta is building toward a vision where agents primarily do the work.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

Blazars are active galactic nuclei powered by supermassive black holes that shoot enormous jets of plasma directly toward Earth.

From Science Daily • May 24, 2026

He turns the wheels of his chair toward the small table in the corner of his room.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam