outward

1 of 3

adjective

out·​ward ˈau̇t-wərd 

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 

variants or outwards

ˈau̇t-wərdz 

1

: toward the outside

2

obsolete : on the outside : externally

outward

3 of 3

noun

: external form, appearance, or reality

Synonyms

Adjective

• exterior
• external
• outer
• outside

Noun

• appearance
• face
• guise
• name
• seeming
• semblance
• show

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

Adjective

Even with the outward lenses nearly transparent, the projection is easy to see in all but the brightest ambient light. —PCMAG, 7 Jan. 2025

Large, continent-sized countries such as the United States tend to look inward more than outward. —Bilahari Kausikan, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025

Adverb

Your arms should be flush against the wall, with palms facing outward. —Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025

Dell has dropped the up-firing speakers and instead focused on two down-firing ones on the laptop’s underside, aimed outward toward either side. —Joe Osborne, PCMAG, 6 Jan. 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

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

Phrases Containing outward

• outward-bound
• outward looking
• to/by all (outward) appearances

Kids 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

-wərdz 

: toward the outside

the city stretches outward for miles

fold it outward