Towards Meaning
Towards Definition & Usage
Indicates the direction of movement, action, or focus towards a specific goal, location, or person.
Examples
- "She walked towards the door and knocked softly."
- "The car is heading towards the city center."
- "He moved towards her, his face full of expectation."
- "The crowd gathered towards the stage as the concert began."
- "We need to move towards a solution to this problem."
Used to express an aim, purpose, or intention, indicating the goal or target of an action.
Examples
- "He spoke towards improving the community’s health."
- "They made a proposal towards better management of resources."
- "Her actions were towards achieving peace."
- "The team worked tirelessly towards winning the championship."
- "The speech was directed towards inspiring change."
Describes a particular attitude, opinion, or disposition towards a person, group, or concept.
Examples
- "She has a very positive attitude towards her colleagues."
- "His approach towards the environment is quite progressive."
- "They were friendly towards the new neighbors."
- "He was indifferent towards the results of the poll."
- "My feelings towards the movie were mixed; some parts were great, others not so much."
Cultural Context
The preposition 'towards' has been used since Old French and Middle English to express direction, purpose, or attitude. It is commonly seen in everyday speech, literature, and formal contexts. While it is generally synonymous with 'toward' in American English, in British English, 'towards' is more widely preferred.
The Road Ahead
Story
The Road Ahead
On a quiet autumn evening, a young woman named Lily stood at the edge of a field, watching the sun dip behind the hills. She had always been a dreamer, her thoughts always 'towards' the future, wondering what might lie ahead. She had no clear answers, but something about the horizon seemed to promise possibilities, so she decided to take the first step towards it. Walking down the narrow road, she felt a sense of direction, as if every footstep was 'towards' something new, something better. As she walked, her mind wandered to her recent conversations with her best friend, Mia. Mia had been encouraging her, speaking 'towards' the idea of chasing her dreams without hesitation. 'You're not getting any younger, Lily,' Mia had said, 'and time waits for no one. Take the chance and move 'towards' what you want.' Lily had taken those words to heart. Lily’s thoughts shifted to her recent job interview. She had been nervous, unsure of whether she was even 'towards' the right path. But as she sat in the interview room, her posture straightened, her confidence growing as she spoke 'towards' her ambition. The interviewer seemed impressed, nodding thoughtfully as she spoke. She realized she was speaking not just 'towards' her career, but 'towards' herself—a version of herself that had always been there, waiting to emerge. After a few minutes of walking, she reached the town square, where a small group of people were gathered in front of a coffee shop. As she approached, a man smiled and waved, his face warm and inviting. She returned his smile and, feeling a sudden sense of connection, took a step closer, moving 'towards' him. That evening, as she sat sipping coffee with her new acquaintance, Lily couldn’t help but feel grateful. She was finally beginning to see that her life wasn’t about waiting 'towards' the future—it was about moving 'towards' it, with purpose, and embracing every step along the way.
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