Meanings
comparative more outwards · superlative most outwards
- From the interior toward the exterior; in an outward direction.
Light falling on them is not reflected outwards.
1704, I[saac] N[ewton], “(please specify |book=1 to 3)”, in Opticks: Or, A Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light. […], London: […] Sam[uel] Smith, and Benj[amin] Walford, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC - obsoleteOutwardly; (merely) on the surface.
Wo be to you scrybes, and pharises ypocrites, for ye are lyke unto paynted tombes which appere beautyfull outwardes: but are within full off deed mens bones and of all fylthynes.
1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew
Synonyms & antonyms
adverbtoward the outside
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Old Englishūtweardes
- Middle Englishoutwardes
- Englishoutwards
From Middle English outwardes, from Old English ūtweardes; equivalent to outward + -s or out + -wards. Cognate with German auswärts.
More words from Middle English, Old English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian навън
- навън (navăn)in an outward direction
Norwegian Bokmål utover
- utoverin an outward direction
Portuguese para fora, para o lado de fora
- para forain an outward direction
- para o lado de forain an outward direction
Cite this entry
outwards. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/outwards
“outwards.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/outwards. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “outwards,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/outwards.
Source: outwards on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.