Toward: meaning, definitions and examples

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toward

[ təˈwôrd ]

Preposition / Adverb

^{Context #1 | Preposition}

direction

In the direction of; closer to.

Synonyms

in the direction of, near, to.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
toward	Used just like 'toward', as they are interchangeable. It emphasizes the direction or goal. The dog ran toward its owner I am saving money toward buying a new car He leaned toward the microphone to speak
in the direction of	Appropriate for more formal contexts or when giving specific directions or describing a trajectory. It places focus on the path taken. They started running in the direction of the nearest shelter She threw the ball in the direction of the net The ship sailed in the direction of the setting sun
near	Used to indicate proximity to something without necessarily implying movement. It describes something that is already close by or at a short distance. The school is near the library We found a nice spot near the river His house is near the city center
to	Commonly used to describe movement or transfer from one place or state to another. It suggests an endpoint or destination. They are going to the beach He sent a letter to his friend She transferred the files to her computer

Examples of usage

He walked toward the exit.
She gestured toward the window.
The ship sailed toward the horizon.

^{Context #2 | Adverb}

progress

In the direction of a point or object.

Synonyms

approaching, closer to, in the direction of.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
toward	Generally used to indicate movement in the direction of something or someone. It can also imply an attitude or relation with regard to something. She walked toward the library to return her book. His attitude toward his colleagues is always respectful.
in the direction of	Describes movement or orientation towards a specific direction or objective. It suggests a general path or course being taken. The birds flew in the direction of the setting sun. He turned in the direction of the noise to see what was happening.
closer to	Used to describe being near or moving nearer in space, time, or relationship to a point or object. She moved her chair closer to the table so she could work comfortably. We are getting closer to finding a solution to the problem.
approaching	Typically used to describe something or someone that is nearing a point in space, time, or condition. Often relates to an upcoming event or deadline. The deadline is approaching, so we need to finish the project soon. As he was approaching the intersection, the light turned red.

Examples of usage

She leaned toward him.
The numbers are trending toward a positive outcome.

Translations

Translations of the word "toward" in other languages:

🇵🇹 em direção a

🇮🇳 की ओर

🇩🇪 in Richtung

🇮🇩 menuju

🇺🇦 у напрямку до

🇵🇱 w kierunku

🇯🇵 〜に向かって

🇫🇷 vers

🇪🇸 hacia

🇹🇷 doğru

🇰🇷 쪽으로

🇸🇦 باتجاه

🇨🇿 směrem k

🇸🇰 smerom k

🇨🇳 朝

🇸🇮 proti

🇮🇸 í átt að

🇰🇿 бағытында

🇬🇪 მიმართულებით

🇦🇿 doğru

🇲🇽 hacia

Etymology

The word 'toward' originated from Middle English, combining the preposition 'to' with the Old English word 'weard,' meaning 'in the direction of.' The spelling evolved over time to its current form, used in modern English to indicate direction, progress, or orientation towards a specific point or object.

Word Frequency Rank

At #548 in the frequency ranking, this word is highly important for effective communication. It's commonly used in daily situations and should be prioritized in your vocabulary building.

...
545 determined
546 anything
547 latter
548 toward
549 blood
550 heard
551 theory
...