Toward
/təˈwɔːrd/noun
In the direction of; approaching or facing.
Did you know?Toward comes from Old English compounds built on the idea of turning and facing, and its deeper roots are tied to the same ancient Indo-European source behind words for turning and wheels.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tewh₂-
“to turn, twist, or be in motion”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*towardaz
“turned toward, facing in the direction of”
Old English
English
tōweard
“turned toward; in the direction of”
Middle English
English
toward
“in the direction of; with regard to”
Modern English
English
toward
“in the direction of; approaching or facing”