toward

[ preposition tawrd, tohrd, tuh-wawrd, twawrd, twohrd; adjective tawrd, tohrd ]

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.

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

adjective

1. rare.
   in progress; afoot
2. obsolete.
   about to happen; imminent
3. obsolete.
   promising or favourable

preposition

1. a variant of towards

Derived Forms

• ˈtowardness, noun

Other Words From

• to·wardness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of toward¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English tōweard; equivalent to to + -ward

Word History and Origins

Origin of toward¹

Old English tōweard; see to , -ward

Idioms and Phrases

see go a long way toward .

Example Sentences

On Aug. 3, 2019, he got into his gray Honda Civic and drove nearly 10 hours toward El Paso, Texas.

From Salon

In the fall of 2003, The Social Contract ran an ad encouraging its readers to join the Sierra Club so that they could help elect “leaders who will redirect this vital organization toward genuine environmental stewardship.”

From Salon

I can also envision that his antagonism toward reporters might extend to a variety of criminal, civil and financial investigations.

From Salon

Like winged creatures of the sky it draws its nickname from, the bird of paradise seems always ready for takeoff, angling itself toward the light of better tomorrows, or at least the possibility of them.

From Los Angeles Times

From online comments, she gauges that society is broadly more accepting toward LGBTQ+ people than decades ago.

From Los Angeles Times