out·ward
ˈau̇t-wərd 
out·ward
ˈau̇t-wərd
variants
or outwards
1
: toward the outside
2
obsolete
: on the outside : externally
: external form, appearance, or reality
Synonyms
Examples of outward in a Sentence
Adjective
They showed no outward signs of fear, but they must have been afraid.
She was waiting for some outward expression of his love.
To all outward appearances, their marriage was quite normal.
outward symptoms of the disease
The outward migration of people from the city has hurt the city's economy greatly.
He made a slight outward movement with his right hand.
Adverb
The window faces outward toward the street.
Stand with your heels together, toes pointing outward.
air flowing outwards from the lungs
Noun
never was there in a man such a fine, heroic outward and such a cowardly interior
Recent Examples on the Web
Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Midi, The Unseen Sister has some outward similarities with your last film Nina Wu, as there’s an actress as the lead character, she’s exploited by the men around her, and the entertainment industry is portrayed as quite negative.
—Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Nov. 2024
Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
Ultraviolet shock waves cascaded outward from each one, creating bubbles of light that overlapped across an enormous volume of space.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 13 Sep. 2024
Here’s something that borders on miraculous but that scientists in California confirm: The heart emits a magnetic field expanding outward in all directions and returning to the chest in a donut shape.
—Heather Lanier, Longreads, 10 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for outward 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Pickford began to pay more attention to an incident that occurred on the Modena’s outward voyage, in the summer of 1692.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Midi, The Unseen Sister has some outward similarities with your last film Nina Wu, as there’s an actress as the lead character, she’s exploited by the men around her, and the entertainment industry is portrayed as quite negative.
—Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Nov. 2024
Adverb
Europe, having projected its power outward for centuries, is becoming a theater for the projection of non-European power.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
Ultraviolet shock waves cascaded outward from each one, creating bubbles of light that overlapped across an enormous volume of space.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
The armrest pads slide back and forth and can pivot to make adjustments inwards or outwards, plus the armrest height is adjustable with a button located on the underside.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 13 Sep. 2024
Here’s something that borders on miraculous but that scientists in California confirm: The heart emits a magnetic field expanding outward in all directions and returning to the chest in a donut shape.
—Heather Lanier, Longreads, 10 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for outward
Dictionary Entries Near outward
Cite this Entry
“Outward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outward. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
outward
1 of 2 adjective
out·ward
ˈau̇t-wərd
1
: moving or directed toward the outside or away from a center
an outward flow
2
: showing on the outside
outward signs of fear
outward
2 of 2 adverb
variants
or outwards
: toward the outside
the city stretches outward for miles
fold it outward
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share