# toward

Pronunciation: US say "TORD" /tɔɹd/; UK say "tuh-WORD" /təˈwɔːd/

## Preposition

1. Used to indicate motion or orientation in the direction of a person, place, or thing.
   - Simple: Used to show movement or facing 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._
2. Used to indicate that something contributes to or is directed at achieving a particular aim.
   - Simple: Used to show that something helps you reach a goal.
   - _The donations go toward funding cancer research._
   - _He worked steadily toward finishing his degree before the deadline._
3. Used to indicate one's feelings, attitude, or behavior in relation to a person or thing.
   - Simple: Used to show how someone feels about or treats a person or thing.
   - _Her generosity toward strangers surprised everyone who knew her._
   - _The new policy reflects a softer stance toward late payments._
4. Used to indicate nearness to a particular place or approach to a point in time.
   - Simple: Used to mean near a place or close to a time.
   - _Toward the back of the hall, the seats were nearly empty._
   - _The pain usually eases toward the end of the week._

## Adjective

5. Of an event or time: coming, about to happen, or still in the future. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: In old writing, about to happen or still to come.
6. Of a person, especially a child or pupil, yielding, obedient, and quick or willing to learn. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: Willing to obey and ready or quick to learn.
7. Showing promise; likely to do well or to turn out well. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Showing signs of doing well and looking likely to succeed.

## Origin

From Middle English toward, from Old English tōweard, formed from "to" plus "-ward". It is related to Middle Dutch toewaert and Middle High German zuowart.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/toward (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).