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
Danielle MacKey, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2024
At the same time, MBS has pushed through the most radical remake of the country since the Saud dynasty founded its absolute monarchy in the 1930s—including outward liberalization in what had long been one of the world’s most religiously conservative countries.
—Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Yet in a brief appearance before the media, the suspects all showed outward signs of torture and duress.
—Charles Maynes, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024
Money is perhaps the most obvious outward indicator of strategy.
—Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 10 Jan. 2024
Her fascination with her outward appearance shined through her wardrobe too.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 25 Mar. 2024
The former President has made an outward disdain for the mainstream media a key tenet of his political movement.
—Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Its outward forms have shifted, but its core concern remains the same: the struggle for power and what to do with it.
—CBS News, 23 Mar. 2024
Related article How this dream-like photo challenges notions of the male gaze
Exploring the dandy persona has been a natural development for Ball, whose work needles the tension between self-identity and the performance of outward presentation.
—Colleen Kelsey, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Spilker points out that each spacecraft will keep moving outward, carrying its copy of a golden record that has recorded greetings in many languages, along with the sounds of Earth.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024
According to the recall document, the upper control arm ball joint and steering knuckle may separate and cause the wheel to fall outward, resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
—Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 29 Feb. 2024
If this happens, the SUV’s front wheel could fall outward, resulting in a loss of control, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024
In a letter posted Tuesday on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website, Chrysler said the affected vehicles' upper control arm ball joints and steering knuckles may separate, causing a wheel to fall outward and resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024
While a Rio garden at this scale would almost certainly face outward toward mountains and sea, here Duprat erased the city behind a canopy of cedro-rosa, sapucaia and cabreuva trees.
—Michael Snyder Pedro Kok, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Jandali, 51, is a prolific composer whose symphonies and concertos incorporate Arabic maqams (or modes) into a blend that resists transparent fusion, achieving something more akin to keen self-portraiture, even when the lens faces outward.
—Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024
The principal problem for the United States is a loose alliance of revisionist powers pushing outward from the core of Eurasia.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Heather Lanier, Longreads, 10 Jan. 2023
As mayor of Shanghai in 1985-89, Jiang impressed foreign visitors as a representative of a new breed of outward-looking Chinese leaders.
—Joe McDonald, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Nov. 2022
As mayor of Shanghai between 1985 and 1989, Mr. Jiang impressed foreign visitors as a representative of a new breed of outward-looking Chinese leaders.
—Joe McDonald, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Nov. 2022
The tendril-like structures radiating outward are not real, but are artifacts of the image processing techniques.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 2 Jan. 2012
According to this study, the return trip effect (which makes the return trip seem 17-22% shorter on average!) is seen even when people take different routes on the outward and return trips.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 4 July 2014
Start from the inner part of the blade and sweep the steel outward several times on each side.
—Susan Brownstein, cleveland, 8 Nov. 2022
Working from the center outward, group the three tallest succulents slightly to one side of center.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2022
Adjective
In San Salvador, the U.S. Embassy flipped its posture toward Bukele, dropping almost all outward criticism.
—Danielle MacKey, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2024
At the same time, MBS has pushed through the most radical remake of the country since the Saud dynasty founded its absolute monarchy in the 1930s—including outward liberalization in what had long been one of the world’s most religiously conservative countries.
—Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Yet in a brief appearance before the media, the suspects all showed outward signs of torture and duress.
—Charles Maynes, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024
Money is perhaps the most obvious outward indicator of strategy.
—Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 10 Jan. 2024
Her fascination with her outward appearance shined through her wardrobe too.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 25 Mar. 2024
The former President has made an outward disdain for the mainstream media a key tenet of his political movement.
—Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Its outward forms have shifted, but its core concern remains the same: the struggle for power and what to do with it.
—CBS News, 23 Mar. 2024
Related article How this dream-like photo challenges notions of the male gaze
Exploring the dandy persona has been a natural development for Ball, whose work needles the tension between self-identity and the performance of outward presentation.
—Colleen Kelsey, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Serve each table, clockwise, starting with the birthday child (who is traditionally granted an exemption from waiting) and working outward.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Spilker points out that each spacecraft will keep moving outward, carrying its copy of a golden record that has recorded greetings in many languages, along with the sounds of Earth.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024
According to the recall document, the upper control arm ball joint and steering knuckle may separate and cause the wheel to fall outward, resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
—Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 29 Feb. 2024
If this happens, the SUV’s front wheel could fall outward, resulting in a loss of control, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024
In a letter posted Tuesday on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website, Chrysler said the affected vehicles' upper control arm ball joints and steering knuckles may separate, causing a wheel to fall outward and resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024
While a Rio garden at this scale would almost certainly face outward toward mountains and sea, here Duprat erased the city behind a canopy of cedro-rosa, sapucaia and cabreuva trees.
—Michael Snyder Pedro Kok, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
Jandali, 51, is a prolific composer whose symphonies and concertos incorporate Arabic maqams (or modes) into a blend that resists transparent fusion, achieving something more akin to keen self-portraiture, even when the lens faces outward.
—Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024
The principal problem for the United States is a loose alliance of revisionist powers pushing outward from the core of Eurasia.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Noun
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
As mayor of Shanghai in 1985-89, Jiang impressed foreign visitors as a representative of a new breed of outward-looking Chinese leaders.
—Joe McDonald, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Nov. 2022
As mayor of Shanghai between 1985 and 1989, Mr. Jiang impressed foreign visitors as a representative of a new breed of outward-looking Chinese leaders.
—Joe McDonald, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Nov. 2022
The tendril-like structures radiating outward are not real, but are artifacts of the image processing techniques.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 2 Jan. 2012
According to this study, the return trip effect (which makes the return trip seem 17-22% shorter on average!) is seen even when people take different routes on the outward and return trips.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 4 July 2014
Start from the inner part of the blade and sweep the steel outward several times on each side.
—Susan Brownstein, cleveland, 8 Nov. 2022
Working from the center outward, group the three tallest succulents slightly to one side of center.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outward.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near outward
Cite this Entry
“Outward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outward. Accessed 19 Apr. 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