toward
preposition
mainlyUSus/tɔːrd//twɔːrd/uk/təˈwɔːd//twɔːd/(also mainlyUKtowards)towardpreposition(MOVEMENT)
B1
in thedirectionof, orcloserto someone or something:
Shestoodup andwalkedtoward him.
Heleanedtoward hiswifeandwhispered, "Can we gohomesoon?"
Shekeptglancingtoward thephone.
Thecountryseemsto bedriftingtowardwar.
There is atrendtowardhealthiereatingamong allsectorsof thepopulation.
- Awaspcame toward us and Howardstartedflailinghisarmsaround.
- We wereheadingtoward Kumasi whenourtruckbrokedown.
- Thehorseandcartjoggeddown theroughtracktoward thefarm.
- Iwalkedbackwardtoward thedoor.
- When she came toward meshouting, Iretreatedbehind mydesk.
Describing movement towards
- -wards
- -ways
- at
- convergent
- earthward
- facing
- for
- forward
- forwards
- hither
- inwards
- on
- oncoming
- onward
- onwards
- thither
- up
- ward
- way
- wise
towardpreposition(RELATION)
B2
inrelationto something or someone:
They've always been veryfriendlytoward me.
There has been achangeingovernmentpolicytowardenergyefficiency.
Hefeelsa lot ofanger/hostility/antagonism/animositytoward hisfather.
Mostnewspapersarebiasedtoward oneparticularpoliticalparty.
- He's alwaysbehavedcourteouslytoward myfamily.
- He'sadoptedaremarkablylight-heartedattitudetoward thesituation.
- Aparentmust becarefulnot to showfavoritismtoward any one oftheirchildren.
- Theyshowedopenhostilitytowardtheirnewneighbors.
- Heclaimsthatsocietyhas beenfartoopermissivetowarddrugtaking.
Regarding and concerning
- about
- apropos
- around
- as toidiom
- be/have something to do withsomethingidiom
- connection
- cover
- department
- hereof
- in respect ofsomethingidiom
- in the brain/looks departmentidiom
- range
- re
- respect
- say
- something
- thereof
- towards
- vis-à-vis
- wise
towardpreposition(POSITION)
C1
near to, just before, or around atimeorplace:
Ourseatswere toward the back of thetheater.
I often gethungrytoward themiddleof themorning.
We're getting towardwinter, and it's gettingdarkearlier.
- He wentinsanetoward the end of hislife.
- Theweatherisexpectedtosettletoward the end of theweek.
- Thetapespeededup toward the end.
- Johnson came on as asubstitutetoward the end of thegame.
- Thestorebecomesa lot lessbusytowardlunchtime.
Closeness in distance and time
- a hair's breadthidiom
- a stone's throwidiom
- about
- ace
- anywhere
- anywhere nearidiom
- approachable
- around
- float
- float around
- hand to handidiom
- hard by
- here
- proximity
- roof
- round the corneridiom
- shadow
- shout
- step
- super-convenient
towardpreposition(PURPOSE)
C1
for thepurposeofbuyingorachievingsomething:
I'msavingup tobuyacar, and Dad has given me somemoneytoward it.
Would you like to make acontribution(= give somemoney)toward apresentfor Linda?
Theworkthatstudentsdo during thesemestercountstowardtheirfinalgrade.
- Aren't you going tocontributetoward Jack'sleavingpresent?
- Theworkthat thestudentsdo during theyearwillcounttowardtheirfinaldegrees.
- Theirpoliciesare all toward thecreationofwealth.
- Do youagreewith theprinciplethat everyone shouldpaysomething toward thecostofhealthcare?
- The Friends of theRoyalAcademyraised$10,000 towards thecostof theexhibition.
Goals and purposes
- affordance
- ambition
- avail
- cause
- dedicated
- deflect
- dream
- eye
- it's the thought that countsidiom
- key performance indicator
- KPI
- moonshot
- objective
- point
- target
- target setting
- thought
- towards
- unfocused
- use