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toward

[preposition tawrd, tohrd, tuh-wawrd, twawrd, twohrd; adjective tawrd, tohrd]
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preposition Also to·wards.
  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.
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Origin of toward

before 900; Middle English; Old English tōweard. See to, -ward
Related formsto·ward·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for towards

towards

preposition
  1. in the direction or vicinity oftowards London
  2. with regard toher feelings towards me
  3. as a contribution or help tomoney towards a new car
  4. just beforetowards one o'clock
  5. Irish in comparison withit's no work towards having to do it by hand
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Also: toward

toward

adjective (ˈtəʊəd)
  1. rare in progress; afoot
  2. obsolete about to happen; imminent
  3. obsolete promising or favourable
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preposition (təˈwɔːd, tɔːd)
  1. a variant of towards
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Derived Formstowardness, noun

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for towards

toward

Old English toweard "in the direction of," prepositional use of toweard (adj.) "coming, approaching," from to (see to) + -weard, from Proto-Germanic *-warth, from PIE *wert "turn" (see -ward). Towards with adverbial genitive ending, was in Old English as toweards.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with towards

toward

see go a long way toward.

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.