Word
inward
Phoneticsin·ward, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪnwɝd/
UK/ˈɪnwəd/
Definitions
01mental or private
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. relating to your private thoughts and feelings rather than what you show to other people.
adj. relating to the mind, spirit, or internal thoughts as opposed to external physical reality.
“She struggled with an inward fear that she was not good enough for the job.”
“The protagonist's inward journey is more compelling than the external plot, as he grapples with his conscience throughout the novel.”
02moving toward the center
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. directed or moving toward the inside of something.
adj. directed or moving toward the interior or center of a space or object.
“The inward curve of the wall made the room feel smaller than it was.”
“The architect designed the building with an inward slope to maximize the amount of light reaching the central courtyard.”
Antonyms
03toward the inside
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. toward the inside or toward your own mind.
adv. toward the inside or center; often used figuratively to describe focusing on one's own thoughts.
Español:adentro
“The heavy gates opened inward to let the cars enter the driveway.”
“He turned his attention inward, trying to find the source of the anxiety that had been bothering him all morning.”
Usage
In British English, 'inwards' is often preferred as the adverb, while 'inward' is more common in American English.
04nautical/travel
C1 · Advanced Formal · Technical
adj. describes a ship or person traveling toward a home port or a specific country.
adj. directed toward the land or a home port; specifically used for vessels or cargo entering a jurisdiction.
“The inward flight was delayed by several hours due to the storm.”
“Customs officials are responsible for inspecting all inward cargo to ensure compliance with national import regulations.”
Real-World Examples
“Something appears to be preventing much of that gas from cooling and falling inward.” “The gas eventually cools, moves inward and clumps together to form stars.” Etymology
From Middle English inward, from Old English inweard, corresponding to in + -ward.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/inward
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0