Nearby Words

toward

[prep. tawrd, tohrd, tuh-wawrd, twawrd, twohrd; adj. tawrd, tohrd] Example Sentences Origin

to·ward

[prep. tawrd, tohrd, tuh-wawrd, twawrd, twohrd; adj. tawrd, tohrd]
preposition Also, to·wards.
1.
in the direction of: to walk toward the river.
2.
with a view to obtaining or having; for: They're saving money toward a new house.
3.
in the area or vicinity of; near: Our cabin is toward the top of the hill.
4.
turned to; facing: Her back was toward me.
5.
shortly before; close to: toward midnight.
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6.
as a help or contribution to: to give money toward a person's expenses.
7.
with respect to; as regards: his attitude toward women.
COLLAPSE
adjective
8.
about to come soon; imminent.
9.
going on; in progress; afoot: There is work toward.
10.
propitious; favorable.
11.
Obsolete.
a.
promising or apt, as a student.
b.
compliant; docile.

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Toward is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English tōweard. See to, -ward

to·ward·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To toward
Example Sentences
  • Hurtle two stories toward the earth in a metal and plastic tube as others watch and, almost certainly, laugh.
  • Researchers have taken only the first steps toward finding definitive answers to both of those questions.
  • Toward a more rigorous and constructive dialogue on intelligent infrastructure.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
toward
 
adj
1.  rare in progress; afoot
2.  obsolete about to happen; imminent
3.  obsolete promising or favourable
 
prep
4.  a variant of towards
 
[Old English tōweard; see to, -ward]
 
'towardness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

toward
O.E. toweard "in the direction of," prepositional use of toweard (adj.) "coming, approaching," from to (see to) + -weard, from P.Gmc. *-warth, from PIE *wert "turn" (see -ward). Towards with adverbial genitive ending, was in O.E. as toweards.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

toward

see go a long way toward.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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