outwards

Outwards is an English directional adverb meaning toward the outside or away from a center, interior, or origin. It is used to describe movement, orientation, or perspective that is directed away from a reference point. The related adjective is outward; in British English, outwards is commonly used as an adverb, while American English generally favors outward for both adjective and adverb forms, with outwards appearing less frequently.

Etymology and usage notes: outwards is formed from out + ward, a pattern shared with other directional terms such as forward and backward. The word appears in a variety of contexts, from everyday description of direction (e.g., walking outwards from a village) to more technical phrases in science and travel writing. In some phrases, outward and outward-looking convey emphasis on exterior aspects or external orientation, whereas inward or inward-looking emphasizes interiority or inner focus.

In common phrases, outwards can modify actions or states that extend away from a reference point: the outward journey, the outward drift of a tide, or the ship’s outward voyage. It also appears in descriptions of appearance or behavior as outward signs or outward signs of distress, meaning visible or external indicators. In contrast to inward concepts, outward can pair with terms like outward-bound (heading away from shore) or outward-facing (design oriented to external users or audiences).

In summary, outwards is a versatile term for exterior direction and external orientation, with its primary usage as an adverb in British English and a closely related form, outward, serving as the preferred adjective form in many contexts.