Towards: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ‘‰
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towards

 

[ tษ™หˆwษ”หrdz ]

Preposition / Adverb
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Preposition

direction

In the direction of; with regard to.

Synonyms

in relation to, in the direction of, to.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
towards

Used to indicate movement in the direction of something or someone. It can also suggest a figurative movement or feeling. Can be used for both physical and abstract directions.

  • She walked towards the park.
  • His attitude towards work has improved recently.
in the direction of

Indicates physical movement pointing or aiming towards a specific point. It's a more explicit phrase for indicating a physical pathway.

  • They headed in the direction of the mountains.
  • Look in the direction of the nearest exit in case of an emergency.
to

Used in many contexts as a preposition to indicate moving toward a specific point or reaching someone or something. It is very general and commonly used in everyday speech.

  • She gave the book to her friend.
  • Are you going to the party?
in relation to

Used when comparing or connecting two or more items, concepts, or situations. It often appears in formal or academic contexts.

  • What did he say in relation to the recent policy changes?
  • Her comments were surprising, particularly in relation to her previous statements.

Examples of usage

  • He turned towards the door.
  • She felt a warm feeling towards him.
  • I have a positive attitude towards this project.
Context #2 | Adverb

progress

In relation to the point or direction of.

Synonyms

closer to, in the direction of.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
towards

This word typically implies moving in the direction of something or someone. It can be used both physically and metaphorically and is quite versatile.

  • She walked towards the park.
  • He has a positive attitude towards learning.
in the direction of

This phrase is often used to describe movement or orientation facing a specific point. It is more formal and descriptive.

  • He pointed in the direction of the mountains.
  • They are driving in the direction of the sunset.
closer to

This phrase suggests a movement that reduces the distance between two points. It's often used when comparing the relative distance between two objects or places.

  • We are getting closer to the city.
  • Move the chair closer to the table.

Examples of usage

  • He made progress towards his goal.
  • The company is moving towards a more sustainable future.

Translations

Translations of the word "towards" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น em direรงรฃo a

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค•เฅ€ เค“เคฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช in Richtung

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ menuju

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒ ะฝะฐะฟั€ัะผะบัƒ ะดะพ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ w kierunku

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ€œใธๅ‘ใ‹ใฃใฆ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท vers

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ hacia

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท doฤŸru

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ชฝ์œผ๋กœ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู†ุญูˆ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ smฤ›rem k

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ smerom k

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆœ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ proti

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ รญ รกtt aรฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑะฐา“ั‹ั‚ั‹ะฝะดะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒ˜แƒ›แƒแƒ แƒ—แƒฃแƒšแƒ”แƒ‘แƒ˜แƒ—

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ istiqamษ™tindษ™

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ hacia

Etymology

The word 'towards' originated from the Middle English term 'toward,' which was a combination of the preposition 'to' and the Old English word 'weard,' meaning 'in the direction of.' Over time, the spelling evolved to 'towards' in the 16th century. The usage of 'towards' has remained consistent in English language, serving as a preposition and adverb to indicate direction and progress.

Word Frequency Rank

At #696 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.