inward

1 of 3

adjective

in·​ward ˈin-wərd 

1

: situated on the inside : inner

2

a

: of or relating to the mind or spirit

inward peace

b

: absorbed in one's own mental or spiritual life : introspective

3

: marked by close acquaintance : familiar

4

: directed toward the interior

inward

2 of 3

adverb

in·​ward ˈin-wərd 

variants or inwards

ˈin-wərdz 

1

: toward the inside, center, or interior

2

: toward the inner being

inward

3 of 3

noun

1

: something that is inward

2

inwards ˈin-ərdz  -wərdz  plural : innards

Synonyms of inward

Adjective

• inner
• interior
• internal

Noun

• inside(s)
• viscera
• innards
• gut
• entrails
• vitals
• bowel(s)
• intestine(s)

Examples of inward in a Sentence

Adjective

moved towards the inward room for more privacy

he's more inward with the president than most members of the cabinet

Adverb

The window faces inward toward the courtyard.

He turned his attention inward.

Noun

the hunter cleaned the deer by slicing open the belly and removing the inwards

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Its outward investment has exceeded inward investment for the past 15 years, precisely the imbalance the current government is determined to correct. — Control Risks, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

With no energy available to warm the planet to these temperatures, the team reasoned that the temperature must be a residual effect of prior warming either from being engulfed by the red giant or during an inward migration. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 2 July 2026

Adverb

The Ming eventually shed much of its early expansionism by turning inward as a neo-Confucian ethos became more pronounced. — Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Prioritize branches that are evenly spaced and will contribute to the open-center shape, removing those that grow inward or emerge from the bottom side of the scaffold branch. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026

Noun

The effort started outside the post before bending inwards towards the top-left corner, with Ballard’s outside-of-the-boot contact generating the spin required. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Curl the weights toward your shoulders while keeping your palms facing inwards. — Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English inweard (akin to Old High German inwert), from in + -weard -ward entry 1

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

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

Kids Definition

inward

1 of 2 adjective

in·​ward ˈin-wərd 

1

: situated on the inside : inner

2

: of or relating to the mind or spirit

an inward peace

3

: directed toward the interior

an inward flow

inward

2 of 2 adverb

variants or inwards

ˈin-wərdz 

1

: toward the inside, center, or interior

2

: toward the mind or spirit