TOWARDS Meaning and
Definition
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Towards is a preposition that indicates movement in the direction of someone or something. It signifies a purposeful and intentional motion with the aim of reaching a specific destination, goal, or target. It shows a progressive approach or advancement in a particular direction.
The word towards is often used interchangeably with "to" and denotes a sense of orientation or positioning. It typically implies facing, moving, or indicating movement to a specific point, location, or person. It may also convey a sense of inclination, tendency, or readiness for something.
In a figurative sense, towards can also describe a mental or emotional inclination or attitude. It reflects a shift in thoughts, opinions, or feelings and suggests an affinity or positive receptivity to someone or something.
Moreover, towards can be used in a temporal context to refer to the proximity or approach of a particular time or event. It implies the imminent occurrence or impending arrival of a specific moment or situation.
Overall, "towards" is a comprehensive preposition that encapsulates physical movement, mental inclination, emotional affinity, and time approximation. Its versatility enables it to convey different meanings and interpretations depending on the context in which it is used.
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• In the direction of; with a tendency to; with respect to; regarding.
• Ready to do or learn; docile.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for TOWARDS *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for TOWARDS
Etymology of TOWARDS
The word "towards" is derived from the Old English "tóweard", which is composed of two elements: "tó", meaning "to", and "weard", meaning "direction" or "toward". The Old English word has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as the Old Norse "tóvǫrðr" and the Old High German "zuart". Over time, the word "tóweard" transformed into "toward" in Middle English and eventually became "towards" in Modern English.
Idioms with the word TOWARDS
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go a long way towards doing sth
The idiom "go a long way towards doing something" means that a particular action or contribution has a significant impact or makes significant progress towards achieving a particular result or goal. It implies that the action or effort being made is helpful, meaningful, and influential in reaching the intended outcome.
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point sb towards/in the direction of sth
The idiom "point sb towards/in the direction of sth" means to provide guidance or advice to someone on how to find or pursue something. It can be used metaphorically to indicate guiding someone towards a particular goal, destination, solution, or opportunity.
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go a long/some way towards doing something
The idiom "go a long/some way towards doing something" means to make a significant or substantial contribution or progress in achieving a particular goal or outcome. It implies that the action or effort being made is influential and has a positive impact in moving closer to the desired result.
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with an eye towards
The idiom "with an eye towards" means to consider or plan for something in the future. It implies making decisions or taking actions while keeping a specific goal or objective in mind. It suggests having a forward-thinking approach, focused on achieving a desired outcome or result.
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