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towards - 4 dictionary results

to⋅ward

  [prep. tawrd, tohrd, tuh-wawrd, twawrd, twohrd; adj. tawrd, tohrd]
Use towards in a Sentence
–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.
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.
–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.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE tōweard. See to, -ward

Related forms:
to⋅ward⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To towards
to·ward   (tôrd, tōrd, tə-wôrd')   
prep.   also to·wards (tôrdz, tōrdz, tə-wôrdz')
  1. In the direction of: driving toward home.
  2. In a position facing: had his back toward me.
  3. Somewhat before in time: It began to rain toward morning.
  4. With regard to; in relation to: an optimistic attitude toward the future.
  5. In furtherance or partial fulfillment of: contributed five dollars toward the bill.
  6. By way of achieving; with a view to: efforts toward peace.
adj.   (tôrd, tōrd)
  1. Favoring success or a good outcome; propitious.
  2. often towards Happening soon; imminent.
  3. Obsolete Being quick to understand or learn.

[Middle English, from Old English tōweard : tō, to; see to + -weard, -ward.]
Usage Note: Some critics have tried to discern a semantic distinction between toward and towards, but the difference is entirely dialectal. Toward is more common in American English; towards is the predominant form in British English.
to·wards   (tôrdz, tōrdz, tə-wôrdz')   
prep.  Variant of toward.
adj.  Variant of toward.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Towards

To"wards\, prep. & adv. See Toward.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : towards
Spanish: hacia,
German: zu,
Japanese: ～に向かって
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