Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Towards
{
, To′ward
,To′wards
}p
rep.
1.
In the direction of; to.
He set his face
toward
the wilderness. Num. xxiv. 1.
The waves make
towards
the pebbled shore. Shakespeare
2.
With direction to, in a moral sense; with respect or reference to; regarding; concerning.
His eye shall be evil
toward
his brother. Deut. xxviii. 54.
Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense
toward
God, and toward
men. Acts xxiv. 16.
3.
Tending to; in the direction of; in behalf of.
This was the first alarm England received
towards
any trouble. Clarendom.
4.
Near; about; approaching to.
I am
toward
nine years older since I left you. Swift.
{
To′ward
,To′wards
}adv.
Near; at hand; in state of preparation.
Do you hear sught, sir, of a battle
toward
? Shakespeare
We have a trifling foolish banquet
Towards
. Shakespeare
Webster 1828 Edition
Towards
TO'WARDS
, prep. [L. versus, verto.]1.
In the direction to. He set his face toward the wilderness. Num. 24.
2.
With direction to, in a moral sense; with respect to; regarding. His eye shall be evil toward his brother. Deut.28.
Herein do I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men. Acts. 24.
Hearing of thy love and faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus Christ, and toward all saints. Philemon 5.
3.
With ideal tendency to. This was the first alarm England received towards any trouble.
4.
Nearly. I am towards nine years older since I left you.
Definition 2024
towards
towards
English
Preposition
towards
- (British) alternative form of toward
- 1835, Sir John Ross, Sir James Clark Ross, Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-west Passage …, Volume 1, pp.284-5
- 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.
- 2011 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Everton 0-2 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
- 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.
- 1835, Sir John Ross, Sir James Clark Ross, Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-west Passage …, Volume 1, pp.284-5
Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage notes
- Although some have tried to discern a semantic distinction between the words toward and towards, the difference is merely dialectal. Toward is more common in American English and towards is more common in British English.
See also
Translations
toward — see toward
Adverb
towards (not comparable)
- In the direction of something (indicated by context).
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.iv:
- Thus as he spake, lo far away they spyde / A varlet running towards hastily [...].
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.iv:
Adjective
towards (not comparable)
- Near; at hand; in state of preparation; toward.
- Shakespeare
- We have a trifling foolish banquet / Towards.
- Shakespeare