toward
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toward¹
- /təˈwɔːd/ UK
- /tɔɹd/ US
- /ˈtwɔɹd/ US
- /təˈwɔɹd/ US
- /to(ː)ɹd/
- /ˈtwo(ː)ɹd/
- /toəd/
- /ˈtwoəd/
- /tɘˈwoːd/ New Zealand
Rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)d
Where it comes from
From Middle English toward, from Old English tōweard, from Proto-West Germanic *tōward, equivalent to to + -ward. Cognate with Middle Low German tôwart, Middle Dutch toewaert (Modern Dutch toewaarts), Middle High German zuowart, zūwart (Modern German zuwärts). Compare also Middle English tilward, tillward (“toward”).
preposition towards
- In the direction of. She moved toward the door.
- In relation to (someone or something). What are your feelings toward him?
- For the purpose of attaining (an aim). I'm saving money toward retirement.
- Located close to; near (a time or place). Our place is over toward the station.
adjective
- Yielding, pliant; docile; ready or apt to learn; not froward.
-
Approaching, coming near; impending.
Do you heare ought (Sir) of a Battell toward.
Similar: imminent
- Happening; going on. Old Dean Herbert, hearing what was toward, comes tottering along hither, to plead humbly for himself and his mill.
- Promising, likely. Clif[ford] Why that is ſpoken like a toward Prince.
- Future; to-come. But ear that wiſhed day his beame diſcloſd, / He either enuying my toward good, / Or of him ſelfe to treaſon ill diſpoſd / One day vnto me came in friendly mood, / And told for ſecret how he vnderſtood / […]
Similar: coming, in the offing, proximate · Opposite: untoward
Toward²
proper noun
- A coastal village south of Dunoon, Argyll and Bute council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NS1367).
- A surname, apparently taken from the place name.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: achievement, achieve, around, regarding, with, view, about, near, over, approximately, facing, heading, headed, vers, onto, for
adjective
Similar: coming, in the offing, proximate · Opposite: untoward
Translations
Every language
prep in the direction of
| Español | hacia |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 로 ro, 향해서 hyanghaeseo |
| 日本語 | の方に no hō ni, に向かって ni mukatte |
| 中文 | 向 xiàng, 朝 cháo, 往 wǎng |
| हिन्दी | ... की तरफ़ ... kī taraf, ... की ओर ... kī or |
| Português | a, rumo a, até |
| Français | vers |
| Deutsch | zu, in Richtung, nach, auf |
| Italiano | verso, incontro |
| Ελληνικά | προς pros |
| Română | spre, către |
| Русский | к k, в направле́нии v napravlénii, навстре́чу navstréču, в сто́рону v stóronu |
| Tiếng Việt | về phía, về hướng |
| العربية | نَحْوَ naḥwa, صَوْبَ ṣawba, إِلَى ʔilā |
| עברית | אל el, ל־ l'-, ־ה -ah |
prep in relation to
| Español | sobre, hacia |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | ...에 관하여 ...e gwanhayeo |
| 日本語 | に ni, に対して ni taishite |
| 中文 | 關於 /关于 guānyú |
| Português | para com |
| Français | envers |
| Deutsch | zu, gegenüber, bezüglich, hinsichtlich |
| Italiano | verso |
| Ελληνικά | προς pros |
| Русский | о o, относительно otnositelʹno |
| Tiếng Việt | về |
| العربية | نَحُو naḥū |
| עברית | בְּנוֹגֵעַ לְ־ b'nogéa' l'- |
Talk about this word "toward." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/toward. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. toward. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/toward "toward." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/toward.Cite this
@misc{toward_2026,
title = {toward},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/toward},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
