toward

[ preposition tawrd, tohrd, tuh-wawrd, twawrd, twohrd; adjective tawrd, tohrd ]

/ preposition tɔrd, toʊrd, təˈwɔrd, twɔrd, twoʊrd; adjective tɔrd, toʊrd /

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See synonyms for toward on Thesaurus.com

preposition Also to·wards .

in the direction of: to walk toward the river.

with a view to obtaining or having; for: They're saving money toward a new house.

in the area or vicinity of; near: Our cabin is toward the top of the hill.

turned to; facing: Her back was toward me.

shortly before; close to: toward midnight.

as a help or contribution to: to give money toward a person's expenses.

with respect to; as regards: his attitude toward women.

adjective

about to come soon; imminent.

going on; in progress; afoot: There is work toward.

propitious; favorable.

Obsolete.

promising or apt, as a student.
compliant; docile.

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Origin of toward

before 900; Middle English; Old English tōweard.See to, -ward

OTHER WORDS FROM toward

to·ward·ness, noun

Words nearby toward

tovarishch, Tovey, tow, towage, to wake the dead, loud enough, toward, towardly, towards, towaway, towaway zone, tow bar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use toward in a sentence

And Epstein continues to steer money toward universities to advance scientific research.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Doubling down on Schedule I is, at best, a deranged way to push Americans away from “medical,” and toward recreational, use.
Obama’s Pot Policy Is Refer Madness|James Poulos|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
That kind of compassion might go a long way toward helping us begin to respond to a hurting world.
In 2015, Let’s Try for More Compassion|Gene Robinson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And black fury toward cops today is fueled by historic economic disparities and by the economic disaster of the past decade plus.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Wisner continues to feel angry toward the agency because she believes she was misled.
Judge: Rehoming Kids Is Trafficking|Tina Traster|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Davy looked around and saw an old man coming toward them across the lawn.
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
She walked away toward another door, which was masked with a curtain that she lifted.
Confidence|Henry James
For it is better that thy children should ask of thee, than that thou look toward the hands of thy children.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Her heart fluttered violently with fear as she saw that he stepped out after her, and walked by her side toward the house.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
And as she hesitated between obedience to one and duty toward the other, her life, her love and future was in the balance.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux

British Dictionary definitions for toward

toward

adjective (ˈtəʊəd)

rare in progress; afoot

obsolete about to happen; imminent

obsolete promising or favourable

preposition (təˈwɔːd, tɔːd)

a variant of towards

Derived forms of toward

towardness, noun

Word Origin for toward

Old English tōweard; see to, -ward

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with toward

toward

see go a long way toward.

toward

Origin of toward

OTHER WORDS FROM toward

Words nearby toward

Words related to toward

How to use toward in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for toward

Derived forms of toward

Word Origin for toward

Other Idioms and Phrases with toward