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

Abercrombie & Fitch ANF -6.10%decrease; red down pointing triangle narrowed its full-year outlook toward the high end of its range after sales rose in the third quarter.

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In a ritual unseen by the cameras, volunteers heave the floating icons toward the asphalt.

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The discovery may offer new insight into how Alzheimer's develops -- and potentially point toward future treatment strategies.

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It’s more like Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s “Study of Perspective” series of photographs, where his outstretched hand raises a middle finger aimed toward symbolic power centers — the White House, Tiananmen Square, the Eiffel Tower, the Reichstag, etc.

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Even after Blanc arrives, he’s confounded to find himself occasionally standing on the sidelines, a bystander in Jud’s moral crusade to herd his congregation toward righteousness.

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