A2preposition1K

Towards

UK /["/təˈwɔːdz/","/təˈwɔːd/"]/US /["/tɔːrdz/","/tɔːrd/"]/

Definition

in the direction of somebody/something

In simple words: In the direction of something.

Examples

  • They were heading towards the German border.
  • She had her back towards me.
  • This is a first step towards political union.
  • towards the end of April
  • He was warm and tender towards her.
  • our attitude towards death
  • The money will go towards a new school building *(= will help pay for it)*.

Usage notes

Use 'towards' when indicating direction or goal. It’s suitable in both spoken and written English, but avoid in very formal contexts where 'in the direction of' might be preferred.

Grammar pattern

towards + object

Memory hint

Think of 'towards' as 'two-wards' — you're moving two steps toward something.

Collocations

  • walk towards
  • move towards
  • head towards

Synonyms

  • in the direction of
  • toward
  • to

Antonyms

  • away
  • backward

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'toward' — remember they are interchangeable but 'towards' is more common in British English.
  • Incorrectly using 'towards' when the direction is not physical — use it only for direction or goals.