toward

1. 1
   directionpreposition

   Used to indicate motion or orientation in the direction of a person, place, or thing.

   The crowd surged toward the stage as the band appeared.

   He leaned toward the window to get a better view of the parade.

   UsageTowards, with an s, means the same and is the usual British spelling. Unlike to, it need not mean you get there.

   Similarto

   Oppositefrom

   Note

   The shorter form is old: the King James Bible of 1611 has Balaam setting "his face toward the wilderness."

2. 2
   for a goalpreposition

   Used to indicate that something contributes to or is directed at achieving a particular aim.

   The donations go toward funding cancer research.

   He worked steadily toward finishing his degree before the deadline.

   UsageMoney or effort goes toward a goal. Before a verb use the -ing form: working toward finishing a degree.

   Note

   Money and effort go toward a goal, and the word quietly implies a contribution rather than the whole: saving toward retirement does not mean the savings will cover it.

   Every extra shift went toward paying off the loan.

   Half the grant is earmarked toward hiring new staff.

3. 3
   attitudepreposition

   Used to indicate one's feelings, attitude, or behavior in relation to a person or thing.

   Her generosity toward strangers surprised everyone who knew her.

   The new policy reflects a softer stance toward late payments.

   UsageOften after words of feeling or behavior: an attitude toward, generosity toward, friendly toward someone.

   Similarto, regarding, concerning

   Note

   Here the direction is emotional rather than physical: the word follows nouns of attitude and conduct (feelings toward, generosity toward, a stance toward) and points them at their object. The s-less spelling is the American one, yet the King James Bible of 1611 mixes both, setting "evil toward his brother" beside "towards the remnant of his children" in a single verse. Unlike the directional meaning, nothing here moves. Source

   Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

   • The King James Bible was first published in 1611. en.wikipedia.org
   • The 1611 King James Bible uses both quoted forms in a single verse, Deuteronomy 28:54; the item modernizes the surrounding spelling. en.wiktionary.org
4. 4
   preposition

   Used to indicate nearness to a particular place or approach to a point in time.

   Toward the back of the hall, the seats were nearly empty.

   The pain usually eases toward the end of the week.

   UsageCommon in toward the end of and toward evening, for a rough time rather than an exact one.

   Similarnear, around

   Note

   Here the word turns approximate. Toward the end of the week and toward evening mean close to that point without pinning it down, and over toward the station gives a rough location. Jonathan Swift even puts it in front of a number, "toward nine years older," where a modern writer would say nearly. Source

   Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

   • Jonathan Swift wrote the exact phrase "toward nine years older," using toward before a number. en.wikisource.org

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