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towards

Etymology and origin of the English word towards

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 888
From
Old English tōweardes via Middle English
Ultimate origin
Old English (tōweard)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /təˈwɔːdz/ (UK); /tʊˈwɔɹdz/, /ˈtɔɹdz/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English towardes,[2] inherited from Old English tōweardes,[3][4] from tōweard (“coming, facing, approaching”), the source of toward, with the adverbial genitive ending -es,[3][5] as in other words in -wards.[5][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of motion, “in the direction of, on the way to”: about 888.[6]

Semantic evolution

Of position, “facing, on the side next to”, it is from 1423, and “near, about” from about 1447.[6] Introducing the object of a feeling or action, as in her feelings towards me, it is from 1390.[6] “In favour of” was a rare use from 1472.[6] Collins also gives “as a contribution to”, as in money towards a new car, and “just before”, as in towards one o'clock.[7] Merriam-Webster records an archaic adjective towards, “forward, onward”.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 888 – in the direction of.[6]
  • 1390 – introducing the object of a feeling.[6]
  • 1423 – facing, next to.[6]
  • c. 1447 – near, about.[6]

Modern meaning

Preposition

  1. In the direction of: towards London.
  2. With regard to: her attitude towards him.
  3. As a contribution to: money towards a new car.
  4. Near in time, just before: towards evening.

Usage notes

Longman notes that towards is especially British and toward especially American.[8] In Irish English towards can mean “in comparison with”.[7]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  3. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Soanes, Catherine; Stevenson, Angus, eds. (2004), Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 11th ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
  8. ^ Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (2009), 5th ed., Harlow: Pearson Longman

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Towards.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/towards. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·