Towards

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /təˈwɔːdz/
• GenAm IPA: /tʊˈwɔːɹdz/, /twɔːɹdz/, /tɔːɹdz/
• Hyphenation: to + wards

Origin

From toward + -s. See -s Etymology 3

Full definition of towards

Preposition

1. Variant of toward.
• 1835, Sir John Ross, Sir James Clark Ross, Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-west Passage …, Volume 1, pp.284-5Towards the following morning, the thermometer fell to 5°; and at daylight, there was not an atom of water to be seen in any direction.
• 2011, October 1, Phil McNulty, Everton 0-2 Liverpool, But with Goodison Park openly directing its full hostility towards Atkinson, Liverpool went ahead when Carroll turned in his first Premier League goal of the season after 70 minutes.

Synonyms

• toward

Usage notes

Although some have tried to discern a semantic distinction between the words toward and towards, the difference is merely dialectal. Towards is the most common form, while toward tends to appear only in American English.

Adverb

1. (obsolete) In the direction of something (indicated by context).
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.iv:Thus as he spake, lo far away they spyde
  A varlet running towards hastily ....

Adjective

1. (obsolete) Near; at hand; in state of preparation; toward.
• ShakespeareWe have a trifling foolish banquet
  Towards.