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. See towards
   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

And Epstein continues to steer money toward universities to advance scientific research.

From The Daily Beast

Doubling down on Schedule I is, at best, a deranged way to push Americans away from “medical,” and toward recreational, use.

From The Daily Beast

That kind of compassion might go a long way toward helping us begin to respond to a hurting world.

From The Daily Beast

And black fury toward cops today is fueled by historic economic disparities and by the economic disaster of the past decade plus.

From The Daily Beast

Wisner continues to feel angry toward the agency because she believes she was misled.

From The Daily Beast

Davy looked around and saw an old man coming toward them across the lawn.

From Project Gutenberg

She walked away toward another door, which was masked with a curtain that she lifted.

From Project Gutenberg

For it is better that thy children should ask of thee, than that thou look toward the hands of thy children.

From Project Gutenberg

Her heart fluttered violently with fear as she saw that he stepped out after her, and walked by her side toward the house.

From Project Gutenberg

And as she hesitated between obedience to one and duty toward the other, her life, her love and future was in the balance.

From Project Gutenberg