out·ward
ˈau̇t-wərd 
1
: moving, directed, or turned toward the outside or away from a center
an outward flow
2
a
: situated on the outside : exterior
b
: able to be seen
outward beauty
no outward evidence of injury
3
: of or relating to appearances rather than to the mind or the inner life
Their marriage was still quite normal to/by/from all outward appearances.
4
: external
out·ward
ˈau̇t-wərd
variants
or outwards
1
: toward the outside
2
obsolete
: on the outside : externally
: external form, appearance, or reality
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
Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
For most people, inner nature was not forceful enough to influence outward expressions in any determinable form.
—Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 6 Dec. 2025
While the quake’s energy radiates outward from the focus, the epicenter is often used to describe the location of the strongest shaking felt on the surface.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2025
Then, as the explosion spread outwards and collided with the star’s surrounding matter, the shape flattened.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outward
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Adjective
And yet, for all of that, Nylander has borne the most outward-facing criticism from his head coach, Craig Berube.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
For most people, inner nature was not forceful enough to influence outward expressions in any determinable form.
—Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Adverb
LCFTs describe phenomena right at the edge of order and chaos, places where small changes ripple outward dramatically.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 6 Dec. 2025
While the quake’s energy radiates outward from the focus, the epicenter is often used to describe the location of the strongest shaking felt on the surface.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Noun
In IconArrows pointing outwards The outflows come as bitcoin is bleeding.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2025
Then, as the explosion spread outwards and collided with the star’s surrounding matter, the shape flattened.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outward
Cite this Entry
“Outward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outward. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
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
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