toward

Toward is a versatile directional word used as a preposition and as an adverb. It expresses movement in the direction of something, as in “They walked toward the city,” and it can indicate a goal or progression, as in “work toward a cure” or “move toward agreement.” The word also conveys proximity or orientation beyond literal movement, such as attitudes or trends, for example “toward openness.”

Etymology traces toward Middle English toward, from to + ward, with the suffix -ward meaning “in the direction of.” The -ward suffix is related to other directional endings like forward and backward. In American English the form “toward” is common, while British English often uses “towards.”

Usage notes emphasize its function as both preposition and adverb. As a preposition it is typically followed by a noun phrase or pronoun, as in “toward the horizon” or “toward us.” As an adverb it can stand with an implied target, as in “move toward.” In formal writing, consistency with regional spelling conventions is encouraged. The term is widely used in literal contexts (directional movement) and figurative contexts (attitudes, policy, or progress toward a goal).

Related terms include forward, backward, and other -ward forms that express direction. In specialized contexts such as physics, “toward” may describe a vector pointing to a point, but in everyday prose it remains a common, flexible means of indicating direction, aim, or relation.