# towards

/ˈtɔɹdz/ (US) · /tʊwˈɔːdz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. physical direction

preposition · CEFR A2

in the direction of someone or something.

For teachers: indicating the direction in which someone or something moves or faces.

- The children ran towards the ice cream truck as soon as they heard the music.
- The hikers continued their ascent towards the summit, despite the darkening clouds gathering on the horizon.

### 2. approaching a time

preposition · CEFR B1

getting close to a specific time or event.

For teachers: indicating proximity in time; getting near to a particular point or period.

- The weather usually gets much colder towards the end of October.
- Towards the conclusion of the nineteenth century, industrial cities underwent a period of rapid and often chaotic expansion.

### 3. purpose or contribution

preposition · CEFR B1

used to say what something is for, especially when giving money.

For teachers: contributing to a goal, fund, or specific outcome.

- We are all saving money towards a new car for the family.
- The proceeds from the charity auction will go towards the construction of a new community library in the village center.

### 4. relation or attitude

preposition · CEFR B2

your feeling or behavior regarding someone or something.

For teachers: in relation to; regarding a specific person, group, or subject.

- The manager has a very positive attitude towards new ideas from the staff.
- Public sentiment towards the proposed legislation shifted significantly following the publication of the environmental impact report.

### 5. in that direction

adverb · CEFR C1 · Literary

moving in the direction of something already mentioned.

For teachers: in the direction of a previously specified point or object.

- He looked at the distant mountains and began to walk towards.
- The ship sailed steadily towards, guided only by the faint glimmer of the lighthouse on the rocky coast.

Usage: Usually occurs at the end of a clause in literary contexts; 'toward' is more common in American English.

## Examples

- She walked towards the park to meet her friends.
- The company is working towards a goal of reducing plastic waste by fifty percent.
- As the sun dipped towards the horizon, the long shadows stretched across the valley, signaling the end of the day's labor.

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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.