prep. also to·wards (tôrdz, tōrdz, tə-wôrdz')
- In the direction of: driving toward home.
- In a position facing: had his back toward me.
- Somewhat before in time: It began to rain toward morning.
- With regard to; in relation to: an optimistic attitude toward the future.
- In furtherance or partial fulfillment of: contributed five dollars toward the bill.
- By way of achieving; with a view to: efforts toward peace.
- Favoring success or a good outcome; propitious.
- often towards Happening soon; imminent.
- 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
