DictionaryAI

toward

TORD/tɔɹd/UKtuh-WORD/təˈwɔːd/

UK spellingtowards

7 meanings of toward

Practice

  1. 1
    directionpreposition
    Used to show movement or facing in the direction of a person, place, or thing.

    Like an arrow that points at where you are going.

    She walked toward the open door.

    The dog ran toward its owner the moment it saw her.

    UsageTowards means the same; it is the usual British spelling.

    Similarto

    Oppositefrom

    Note
  2. 2
    for a goalpreposition
    Used to show that something helps you reach a goal.

    She saved money toward a new bike.

    Every point counts toward the team's final score.

    UsageBefore a verb, use -ing: save toward buying a bike.

    Note
  3. 3
    attitudepreposition
    Used to show how someone feels about or treats a person or thing.

    He has always been friendly toward his new neighbors.

    His attitude toward homework slowly changed over the year.

    UsageOften after words like attitude or friendly: friendly toward someone.

    Similarto, regarding, concerning

    Note
  4. 4
    preposition
    Used to mean near a place or close to a time.

    The cabin sits toward the end of the road.

    The little cafe on the corner always gets busy toward lunchtime.

    UsageOften in toward the end of something.

    Similarnear, around

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    about to happenadjectivearchaic
    In old writing, about to happen or still to come.
    Do you heare ought (Sir) of a Battell toward.
    c. 1603, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”Here, toward means coming soon and about to happen.
    Note
  2. 6
    eager to learnadjectivearchaic
    Willing to obey and ready or quick to learn.

    Similardocile, tractable, biddable, obedient, teachable

    Oppositestubborn, wayward, intractable, froward

    Note
  3. 7
    likely to succeedadjectiveobsolete
    Showing signs of doing well and looking likely to succeed.
    Clif[ford] Why that is ſpoken like a toward Prince.
    c. 1591, William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt,”Here, toward means promising and likely to do well.
    My Miſtreſs had a Daughter of nine Years old, a Child of toward Parts for her Age, very dextrous at her Needle, and ſkilful in dreſſing her Baby.
    1726, [Jonathan Swift], “A Description of the Farmer’s Daughter.”
    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of toward apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English tōweard, made from "to" plus the ending "-ward".

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts