outward

Outward is a word used as an adjective and, less commonly, as an adverb, describing what is external or directed toward the exterior of something. As an adjective, it denotes things visible or situated on the outside, for example outward appearance, outward features, or outward signs of emotion. It is often contrasted with inward or internal. As an adverb, it means toward the outside or away from the center, as in turn outward or push outward.

The word derives from out plus the directional suffix -ward, from Old English and other Germanic roots. Related terms include outwardness, the state or quality of being outward, and outward-facing or outward-looking as compound forms.

In specialized usage, outward is common in mathematics and physics to denote directions or normal vectors pointing away from a surface, i.e., the outward normal. In geography and geology, outward expansion can describe growth or movement away from a central area.

In everyday language, outward is found in compound forms such as outward-facing, outward-looking, and outward-bound. Outward-bound describes journeys with exploration or adventure at the forefront. The term also appears in cultural contexts; for example, Outward is the title of a 2019 action role-playing video game developed by Nine Dots Studio.