# inward

/ˈɪnwɝd/ (US) · /ˈɪnwəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inward
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. mental or private

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to your private thoughts and feelings rather than what you show to other people.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. moving toward the center

adjective · CEFR B2

directed or moving toward the inside of something.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. toward the inside

adverb · CEFR B2

toward the inside or toward your own mind.

For teachers: toward the inside or center; often used figuratively to describe focusing on one's own thoughts.

- 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.

### 4. nautical/travel

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

describes a ship or person traveling toward a home port or a specific country.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- She took a deep inward breath to calm her nerves.
- The heavy doors open inward, so you need to pull the handle toward you to enter the building.
- The poet's later work reflects an inward journey, focusing more on the quiet evolution of the soul than on the political upheavals of the era.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.