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

But the destruction of forests means that woodland caribou are threatened or endangered, and the population in Jasper National Park is so small that it is heading toward extinction.

From Slate • Apr. 28, 2026

Musk is now moving toward his next set of performance-based stock awards.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

Frederick actively pursued a treaty of amity and commerce with the new American republic, an important step toward broader recognition of the United States.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

Markets have so far leaned toward the former.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

The fox and the badger spun toward the noise, high on their hind legs.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman