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

“I ended up talking this client out of it because it doesn’t align with the rest of the investment strategy, which is geared toward being more aggressively positioned,” Shafransky says.

From Barron's

Similarly, aging stem cells appear to divert resources away from producing new cells and toward survival programs as they cope with stress.

From Science Daily

Gil stressed that his country was "working toward a process of acknowledging past wounds, forgiveness and reconciliation," referring to the amnesty law.

From Barron's

The country's legislature unanimously adopted the landmark law last Thursday, and interim leader Rodriguez hailed its passage, describing it as a step toward "a more democratic, fairer, freer Venezuela."

From Barron's

David Doyle, head of economics at Macquarie Group, expects the administration to shift its tariff policy toward two legal authorities currently in use, one known as Section 232 allowing national security tariffs and the other called Section 301 for addressing foreign trade practices.

From Barron's