Dictionary

towards en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /təˈwɔːdz/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• [tʰə̥ˈwɔɹ̠d̠z] (General-American)
• /ˈtɔɹdz/ (General-American)
• /tʊˈwɔɹdz/ (General-American)
• [tʰə̥ˈwɔːdz] (Received-Pronunciation)
• [tʰw̥oːdz] (New-Zealand)
• [tʰw̥ɔɹ̠d̠z] (General-American)
• /ˈtɔːdz/ (traditional)
• /tɘˈwoːdz/ (New-Zealand)
• /ˈʈʊwə(r)ɖs/ (South-Asia)
• /ˈtoʊɚdz/ (General-American)
• [tʰɘ̥ˈwoːdz] (New-Zealand)

Etymology

Etymology tree Old English tōweardes Middle English towardes English towards From Middle English towardes, from Old English tōweardes, tōwærdes, equivalent to toward + -s (adverbial suffix).

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Near; at hand; in state of preparation; toward.
   • We have a trifling foolish banquet towards. c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v]:

Deriveds

untowards

towards en · ADP

Pronunciation

• /təˈwɔːdz/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• [tʰə̥ˈwɔɹ̠d̠z] (General-American)
• /ˈtɔɹdz/ (General-American)
• /tʊˈwɔɹdz/ (General-American)
• [tʰə̥ˈwɔːdz] (Received-Pronunciation)
• [tʰw̥oːdz] (New-Zealand)
• [tʰw̥ɔɹ̠d̠z] (General-American)
• /ˈtɔːdz/ (traditional)
• /tɘˈwoːdz/ (New-Zealand)
• /ˈʈʊwə(r)ɖs/ (South-Asia)
• /ˈtoʊɚdz/ (General-American)
• [tʰɘ̥ˈwoːdz] (New-Zealand)

Etymology

Etymology tree Old English tōweardes Middle English towardes English towards From Middle English towardes, from Old English tōweardes, tōwærdes, equivalent to toward + -s (adverbial suffix).

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of toward.
   alt of toward
   • Towards the following morning, the thermometer fell to 5°; and at daylight, there was not an atom of water to be seen in any direction. 1835, Sir John Ross, Sir James Clark Ross, Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-west Passage …, Volume 1, pages 284–5:
   • To the left towers the Jungfrau, with the train heading directly towards it. 1960 December, Voyageur, “The Mountain Railways of the Bernese Oberland”, in Trains Illustrated, page 752:
   • 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. 2011 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Everton 0-2 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
   • Huntingdon's ferocity makes the reaction of staff all the more brave. To move towards danger when others are fleeing is the definition of bravery in my book. To place yourself in danger to protect others. 2025 November 12, Philip Haigh, “High praise for rail staff's courage and clear thinking”, in RAIL, number 1048, page 50:

Antonyms

fromwards · fromward

Deriveds

gear towards · go towards · lean towards · wheretowards · theretowards · with an eye towards · pay towards · dial towards · count towards

Relateds

Adverbial genitive

Synonyms

toward

towards en · ADV

Pronunciation

• /təˈwɔːdz/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• [tʰə̥ˈwɔɹ̠d̠z] (General-American)
• /ˈtɔɹdz/ (General-American)
• /tʊˈwɔɹdz/ (General-American)
• [tʰə̥ˈwɔːdz] (Received-Pronunciation)
• [tʰw̥oːdz] (New-Zealand)
• [tʰw̥ɔɹ̠d̠z] (General-American)
• /ˈtɔːdz/ (traditional)
• /tɘˈwoːdz/ (New-Zealand)
• /ˈʈʊwə(r)ɖs/ (South-Asia)
• /ˈtoʊɚdz/ (General-American)
• [tʰɘ̥ˈwoːdz] (New-Zealand)

Etymology

Etymology tree Old English tōweardes Middle English towardes English towards From Middle English towardes, from Old English tōweardes, tōwærdes, equivalent to toward + -s (adverbial suffix).

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) In the direction of something (indicated by context).
   • Thus as he spake, lo far away they spyde / A varlet running towards hastily […] 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC: