Toward Meaning
/təˈwɔːd/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
prepIn the direction of.
prepIn relation to (someone or something).
Sentence Examples
This advice of yours will go a long way toward solving the problem.
The children ran toward the classroom.
Everybody took a hostile attitude toward illegal aliens.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She walked slowly ____ the exit after the show ended last night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The young child started walking slowly ____ her father as he called her name from across the large garden today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English toward, from Old English tōweard, from Proto-West Germanic *tōward, equivalent to to + -ward. Cognate with Middle Low German tôwart, Middle Dutch toewaert (Modern Dutch toewaarts), Middle High German zuowart, zūwart (Modern German zuwärts). Compare also Middle English tilward, tillward (“toward”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[A]Nd when Balaam ſawe that it pleaſed the LORD to bleſſe Iſrael, hee went not, as at other times to ſeeke foꝛ inchantments, but hee ſet his face toward the wilderneſſe."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 24:1:
"Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear."
— 1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter III (Accessory After the Fact), page 382, column 1:
"So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye ſhalbe euill toward his bꝛother, and toward the wife of his boſome, and towards the remnant of his childꝛen which he ſhall leaue:"
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy 28:54:
"I am toward nine years older since I left you, yet that is the least of my alterations; […]"
— a. 1746 (date written), Jonathan Swift, “To Mr. Gay”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume XII, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 92:
"Do you heare ought (Sir) of a Battell toward."
— c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v], page 304, column 1:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She walked slowly ____ the exit after the show ended last night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The young child started walking slowly ____ her father as he called her name from across the large garden today.