Toward

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /təˈwɔːd/
• GenAm IPA: /twɔːɹd/, /tɔː(É™)ɹd/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(r)d, -wɔːd
• Hyphenation: to + ward

Origin

From Old English tōweard, equivalent to to + -ward

Full definition of toward

Preposition

1. In the direction of.She moved toward the door.
• Bible, Numbers xxiv. 1He set his face toward the wilderness.
2. In relation to (someone or something).What are your feelings toward him?
• Bible, DeuteronomyHis eye shall be evil toward his brother.
3. For the purpose of attaining (an aim).I'm saving money toward retirement.
4. Located close to; near (a time or place).Our place is over toward the station.
• Jonathan SwiftI am toward nine years older since I left you.

Synonyms

• towards

Usage notes

Although some have tried to discern a semantic distinction between the words toward and towards, the difference is merely dialectal. Toward is more common in American English and towards is the predominant form in British English.

Adjective

1. (obsolete) Future; to come.
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.iv:ere that wished day his beame disclosd,
  He either enuying my toward good,
  Or of himselfe to treason ill disposd
  One day vnto me came in friendly mood ....
2. (dated) Approaching, coming near; impending; present, at hand.
• ShakespeareDo you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?
• 1843, Thomas_Carlyle, , book 2, ch. XV, Practical — DevotionalOn the morrow … orders the Cellerarius to send off his carpenters to demolish the said structure brevi manu, and lay up the wood in safe keeping. Old Dean Herbert, hearing what was toward, comes tottering along hither, to plead humbly for himself and his mill.
3. Yielding, pliant; docile; ready or apt to learn; not froward.
4. (obsolete or archaic) Promising, likely; froward.Why, that is spoken like a toward prince. ― Shakespeare.