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

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

The Reichstag dome is accessible to the public, offering spiraling ramps that give visitors outward views of the Berlin skyline and inward views of the German government meeting below. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 Sep. 2025

Warm gas has internal pressure that pushes outward against the inward force of gravity trying to collapse the cloud. —Luke Keller, Space.com, 7 Sep. 2025

Adverb

After the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016, where 49 people were killed at the Orlando gay bar, Cox — then lieutenant governor — also looked inward. —Amie Parnes, The Hill, 17 Sep. 2025

Where atomic clocks measure time by tracking electrons shifting between quantum states excited by a microwave oscillator, nuclear clocks turn inward, measuring transitions within the nucleus itself. —New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025

Noun

Without appearing to look, Rogers flicked the ball round the corner, straight into the path of Madueke running in behind, cutting inwards from the right. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025

Also, most emergency exit doors on planes open inwards. —Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2025

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