toward

towardpreposition

Toward points in the direction of something: a place that someone is moving to, a person that feelings are directed at, a time or part that something is near, or an aim that something helps to reach.

1. directionin the direction of

   • She walked toward the door.
   • The dog ran toward me.
   • We were driving toward the city.
   • He turned toward the window.

   Compare to (to says that the place is reached: walk to the station; toward gives only the direction)

   1. afacing or pointing in the direction of

      • The house faces toward the sea.
      • Sit with your back toward the window.

   For translators (sense 1)

   Meaning across languages Toward shows only the direction of movement; it does not say that the place is reached. Use to when it is: She walked to the door means that she reached it.

2. feelingsin relation to someone or something

   Used after words for feelings and behavior, such as attitude, feeling, kind, and friendly, to show who or what the feeling or behavior is directed at.

   • Her attitude toward work has changed.
   • They were very friendly toward the new students.
   • He has always been kind toward animals.

   Collocations

   noun + preposition attitude toward, feelings toward, respect toward

   adjective + preposition friendly toward, kind toward, hostile toward

3. nearnear a time or a part of something

   Common with the end, the beginning, the back, and the front.

   • It got colder toward evening.
   • She arrived toward the end of the meeting.
   • Our seats were toward the back of the room.

   Collocations

   phrase toward the end, toward the back, toward evening

4. helping to reachas a part of paying for or reaching something

   • We're saving toward a new car.
   • Everyone gave some money toward Sam's present.
   • This is an important step toward a solution.

   Collocations

   phrase a step toward, save toward, work toward, go toward

See also to