outward

outward — adjective

1. shown in a person's behaviour or in the visible state of something, without reve

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

shown in a person's behaviour or in the visible state of something, without revealing the real feeling or truth underneath.

Example

During the interview, Maya kept an outward smile while her hands shook.

collocation: outward smile

The cottage had outward charm, but rain leaked through the roof.

Common collocations
  • outward appearance
  • outward sign
  • outward calm
  • outward confidence
  • outward show of support
Synonyms
  • apparent

    focuses on what seems true from the outside

  • external

    more formal and often used for things seen from outside

  • surface

    stresses that the real situation may be deeper than it looks

Antonyms
  • inner

    connected with hidden feelings or thoughts

  • genuine

    truly felt rather than only shown

  • real

    describes the true situation behind appearances

Grammar Patterns

outward + noun

outward sign of something

outward calm / confidence / support

Usage Note

Common with nouns such as 'appearance', 'smile', 'sign', 'calm', and 'confidence'. Distinguish from adjective/2 and adjective/3, which are about physical direction or travel, not hidden feelings.

Common Mistakes

The garden has an outward wall.
The garden has an outer wall.
this sense is about appearance or visible behaviour, not the physical outside part of something.
Her outward words were very kind.
Her outward manner was very kind.
this sense usually describes the general appearance or visible behaviour, not individual words.

2. moving, pointing, or spreading from the middle toward the edge or outer side.

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

moving, pointing, or spreading from the middle toward the edge or outer side.

Example

The museum doors open outward, so keep the step clear.

pattern: open outward

Light spread outward from the campfire into the dark field.

Common collocations
  • outward movement
  • outward spread
  • outward force
  • outward curve
  • open outward
Synonyms
  • increasing

    can describe movement that grows farther from the middle, but is less exact

  • spreading

    focuses on widening from a central point

  • radiating

    used especially when lines, light, or force go out from the centre

Antonyms
  • inward

    toward the centre or inside

  • central

    located in the middle rather than moving away from it

Grammar Patterns

move outward

open outward

outward + movement / spread / force

Usage Note

Usually appears with verbs such as 'move', 'open', 'spread', 'push', or 'turn'. Distinguish from adjective/3, which is used for the first part of a trip rather than movement from a centre point.

Common Mistakes

We bought outward tickets to Osaka.
We bought outbound tickets to Osaka.
this sense describes direction from a centre, not the leaving part of a journey.
The door has an outward paint mark.
The door has a mark on the outside.
this sense describes movement or direction, not a fixed outer position.

3. used for travel that goes from your starting place to the place you are visiting

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

used for travel that goes from your starting place to the place you are visiting, before the return trip.

Example

We slept through most of the outward flight to Seoul.

collocation: outward flight

On the outward trip, the bus stopped beside a tea farm.

pattern: on the outward trip

Common collocations
  • outward journey
  • outward trip
  • outward flight
  • outward route
  • outward leg
Synonyms
  • outbound

    the closest modern equivalent, especially in travel schedules

  • departing

    focuses on leaving rather than the whole first leg of a trip

  • going out

    more informal and less fixed as a travel label

Antonyms
  • return

    used for the trip back

  • inbound

    common in transport for movement coming back in

  • homeward

    emphasizes travel toward home

Grammar Patterns

outward + journey / trip / flight

on the outward journey

outward route

Usage Note

Mostly used before travel nouns such as 'journey', 'trip', 'flight', and 'route'. Distinguish from adjective/2, which describes physical direction rather than a trip away from a base.

Common Mistakes

The doors swing on the outward trip.
The doors swing outward.
this sense is only for travel, not for physical movement.
Our outward road from the square was narrow.
Our outward route from the hotel was narrow.
this sense usually appears with travel nouns such as 'trip', 'journey', 'flight', or 'route'.

outward — adverb

Word family

  • outwardly
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

For adjective/1, 'outward' is used for what people can see in behaviour or appearance, especially when it may hide a different reality underneath. 'Apparent' is close, but it often focuses on what seems true after a quick look. 'External' is more formal and often used for outside features or causes. 'Surface' strongly suggests that the deeper truth is different. 'Visible' is broader and simply means able to be seen, without the contrast with inner feelings. Compare: Maya kept an outward smile, the damage looked less serious than was apparent, and the box had no external marks even though the inside was broken.

outward ↗apparent ↗external ↗surface ↗visible ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

This word grew in Old English from 'out' and the ending '-ward', which shows direction. It first described movement toward the outside, and later it also came to describe what is shown on the outside of a person or situation. That is why modern English uses 'outward' both for physical direction and for visible appearance.