toward

A2 Topic:Grammar & Function Words

Also spelled towards

US /tɔɹd/ UK /təˈwɔːd/ See IPA manual

Freq #3014

Meanings

1

prep
In the direction of someone or something.

She walked toward the door.
2

prep
In relation to someone or something.

What are your feelings toward him?
3

prep
For the purpose of reaching a goal.

I'm saving money toward a new car.
4

prep
Near a particular time or place.

It started raining toward the end of the afternoon.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

coming future impending proximate

Opposites

fromward froward untoward

Word family

Derived forms theretowardtowardlytowardnessuntowardwheretoward

Appears in

Proverbs (1)

See all

The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice

Etymology

From Middle English toward, from Old English tōweard, from Proto-West Germanic *tōward, equivalent to to + -ward. Cognate with Middle Low German tôwart, Middle Dutch toewaert (Modern Dutch toewaarts), Middle High German zuowart, zūwart (Modern German zuwärts). Compare also Middle English tilward, tillward (“toward”).

toward Middle English tōweard Old English *tōward Proto-West Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Grammar & Function Words

External links

# toward

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** prep
**IPA (US):** /tɔɹd/
**IPA (UK):** /təˈwɔːd/
**Frequency rank:** 3014

## Meanings
1. In the direction of someone or something.
2. In relation to someone or something.
3. For the purpose of reaching a goal.
4. Near a particular time or place.

## Examples
- She walked toward the door.
- What are your feelings toward him?
- I'm saving money toward a new car.
- It started raining toward the end of the afternoon.

## Synonyms
- coming
- future
- impending
- proximate

## Antonyms
- fromward
- froward
- untoward

## Derived Forms
- theretoward
- towardly
- towardness
- untoward
- wheretoward

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: toward
- Root: tōweard
- Root: *tōward
- Affix: -ward - in the direction of

## Etymology
From Middle English toward, from Old English tōweard, from Proto-West Germanic *tōward, equivalent to to + -ward. Cognate with Middle Low German tôwart, Middle Dutch toewaert (Modern Dutch toewaarts), Middle High German zuowart, zūwart (Modern German zuwärts). Compare also Middle English tilward, tillward (“toward”).

## AI Etymology
Toward is from Middle English toward, from Old English tōweard, from Proto-West Germanic *tōward, equivalent to to + -ward. Cognate with Middle Low German tôwart, Middle Dutch toewaert (Modern Dutch toewaarts), Middle High German zuowart, zūwart (Modern German zuwärts). Compare also Middle English tilward, tillward (“toward”). In present-day use, it can mean in the direction of someone or something, or in relation to someone or something. Derived formations include theretoward, towardly, towardness, untoward, wheretoward.

## Topics
- Grammar & Function Words

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