I. ˈau̇twə(r)d adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ūtanweard, ūteweard, ūtweard, from ūtan outside, from outside (from ūt out), ūte out, outside (from ūt out), & ūt out + -weard -ward — more at out
1.
a. : moving, directed, or turned toward the outside or away from a center
the inward or outward flow of money — Journal of Accountancy
the gradual outward slope of the spur ridges — C.B.Hitchcock
an outward journey
b. : of or relating to a movement toward the outside
the cost of returning a parcel includes postage, generally equivalent to the outward charge — Great Britain Post Office Guide
2. : situated or lying on the outside of an enclosure or surface : exterior
found the place where I was to lie … close and confined … and therefore lay all night in an outward room — Tobias Smollett
3. : of or relating to the body and its surface appearance and clothing as opposed to the mind or spirit : bodily , external
outward man
outward beauty
outward form
4.
a. : of or relating to an external act, activity, happening, or condition as distinguished from a mental or emotional process
the chief outward events of his life
the new job represented a great improvement in his outward status
a feverish outward display of energy
b. : of or relating to material objects as opposed to ideal concepts
we alone wore outward shackles — Mary Johnston
c. : of or relating to form as distinguished from essence
began to find a recognized place in the outward pattern of church life — Eastern Churches Quarterly
5. dialect England : inclined to drink : dissipated
Synonyms: see outer
II. adverb
or out·wards -dz
Etymology: outward from Middle English, from Old English ūtanweard, ūteweard, ūtweard, from ūtanweard, ūteweard, ūtweard, adjective; outwards from Middle English outwardes, from Old English ūtweardes, from ūtweard, adjective & adverb + -es -s
1.
a. : toward the outside : away from a center or starting point
the eternally outward moving stars — New York Times
the city stretches outward for many miles
b. : from the soul or mind toward external manifestation
2. obsolete : on the outside : externally
they have a good cover, they show well outward — Shakespeare
III. ˈau̇twə(r)d noun
( -s )
Etymology: outward (I)
1. : external form or appearance : outside
so fair an outward and such stuff within — Shakespeare
2. : the material world
can perceive the outward and the inward, nature's good and God's — Robert Browning