outwards

English

Etymology

From Middle English outwardes, from Old English ūtweardes; equivalent to outward +‎ -s or out +‎ -wards. Cognate with German auswärts.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈaʊtwɚdz/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈaʊtwədz/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˈæotwɘdz/

Adverb

outwards (comparative more outwards, superlative most outwards)

1. From the interior toward the exterior; in an outward direction.
   • 1704, I[saac] N[ewton], “(please specify |book=1 to 3)”, in Opticks: Or, A Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light. […], London: […] Sam[uel] Smith, and Benj[amin] Walford, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC:

     Light falling on them is not reflected outwards.

2. (obsolete) Outwardly; (merely) on the surface.
   • 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew:

     Wo be to you scrybes, and pharises ypocrites, for ye are lyke unto paynted tombes which appere beautyfull outwardes: but are within full off deed mens bones and of all fylthynes.

Synonyms

• outward

Antonyms

• inwards

Translations

in an outward direction

• Bulgarian: навън (bg) (navǎn)
• Macedonian: на́надвор (nánadvor)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: utover (no)

Anagrams

• draws out, outdraws

Middle English

Adverb

outwards

1. Alternative form of outwardes