Wiktionary

toward

See also: to-ward and Toward

English

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Etymology

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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”).

Pronunciation

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Preposition

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toward (now chiefly US)

  1. In the direction of.
    She moved toward the door.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 24:1:
      [A]Nd when Balaam ſawe that it pleaſed the LORD to bleſſe Iſrael, hee went not, as at other times to ſeeke foꝛ inchantments, but hee ſet his face toward the wilderneſſe.
    • 1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter III (Accessory After the Fact), page 382, column 1:
      Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear.
    • 2019, Voice of America, Learning English‎[1] (public domain), archived from the original on 2019-03-11:
      Audio (US):(file)
      China has claimed that South Korea's dust flies toward Shanghai.
  2. In relation to (someone or something).
    What are your feelings toward him?
  3. For the purpose of attaining (an aim).
    I'm saving money toward retirement.
  4. Located close to; near (a time or place).
    Our place is over toward the station.

Usage notes

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  • Although some have tried to discern a semantic distinction between the words toward and towards, the only difference in practice is dialectal. Toward is more common in American English and towards is more common in British English, though each form may be found in both varieties.

Alternative forms

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Adjective

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toward (not comparable)

  1. Yielding, pliant; docile; ready or apt to learn; not froward.
  2. (dated) Approaching, coming near; impending; present, at hand.
    • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v], page 304, column 1:
      Do you heare ought (Sir) of a Battell toward.
    • 1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “Practical Devotional”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, →OCLC, book II (The Ancient Monk), page 70:
      On the morrow, after mass, our Lord Abbot [w:Samson of Tottington] orders the Cellerarius to send off his carpenters to demolish the said structure brevi manu, and lay up the wood in safe keeping. Old Dean Herbert, hearing what was toward, comes tottering along hither, to plead humbly for himself and his mill.
  3. (obsolete or archaic) Promising, likely.
  4. (obsolete) Future; to-come.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 238:
      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 / […]

Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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Anagrams

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Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Old English tōweard, tōwærd; equivalent to to +‎ -ward.

Preposition

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toward

  1. In the direction of; toward.
  2. Into the presence of.
  3. In proximity to; near, by.
  4. In an exchange or communication with; to.
  5. Having a wont or tendency towards.
  6. Similar to.
  7. Subject to; under the control of.
  8. Useful for; prepared for.

Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • English: toward

Adjective

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toward

  1. Future, forthcoming; to come.
  2. Near at hand; imminent, nigh.
  3. Moving forth.
  4. of goodwill, benevolent; well-tempered, gentle.
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Descendants

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Adverb

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toward

  1. In a given direction, typically toward something specific.
  2. Nearly, almost.

Derived terms

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References

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