outward

1 of 3

adjective

out·​ward ˈau̇t-wərd How to pronounce outward (audio)
Synonyms of outwardnext
1
: moving, directed, or turned toward the outside or away from a center
an outward flow
2
: situated on the outside : exterior
3
: of or relating to the body or to appearances rather than to the mind or the inner life
outward beauty
4
: external

outward

2 of 3

adverb

out·​ward ˈau̇t-wərd How to pronounce outward (audio)
variants or outwards
ˈau̇t-wərdz How to pronounce outward (audio)
1
: toward the outside
2
obsolete : on the outside : externally

outward

3 of 3

noun

: external form, appearance, or reality

Synonyms

Adjective

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
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
Her last outward communication, via email, appeared to occur on Feb. 11, said Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza. — Becca Longmire, People.com, 10 Mar. 2025 While those stars burn, nuclear fusion exhorts an outward push to counter the gravitational pull of the star’s own mass. — Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025
Adverb
About 50% of people with Parkinson’s have a tremor that occurs when their arms stretch outward. — Kristen Fischer, Health, 11 Mar. 2025 The silk is cut into small triangular pieces, folded and layered outward, creating a rich and three-dimensional texture with vibrant colors. — Gemma A. Williams, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
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

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outward was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing outward

Browse Nearby Words

outward
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outward. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

outward

1 of 2 adjective
out·​ward ˈau̇t-wərd How to pronounce outward (audio)
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
-wərdz How to pronounce outward (audio)
: toward the outside
the city stretches outward for miles
fold it outward

More from Merriam-Webster on outward

Nglish: Translation of outward for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All