inwards
inwards — adverb
1. moving or facing from the outer surface of something toward its centre or inner
moving or facing from the outer surface of something toward its centre or inner area
Haruto opened the old gate and it swung inwards with a loud creak.
verb of motion + inwards describing direction
The cold wind blew inwards through the crack under the door.
inwards + through [opening] for path of movement
As the crowd pressed inwards, the stage began to shake.
Mei-Lin breathed deeply, feeling the cool air travel inwards into her lungs.
The walls of the cave sloped inwards, making the passage very narrow.
- outwards
describes movement away from the centre toward the outer surface
用法筆記
Commonly used with verbs of movement such as 'swing', 'move', 'flow', 'turn', and 'press'. The American English equivalent is 'inward'.
常見錯誤
inwards — adjective
1. located in the part of something that is near the centre, rather than on its out
located in the part of something that is near the centre, rather than on its outer surface
Lucia ran her fingers along the inward surface of the bowl, feeling its smooth glaze.
inward + surface / side / wall
The inward curve of the spoon collected every last drop of soup.
A small inward pocket inside the jacket held his passport and wallet.
The inward walls of the ancient temple were covered with faded paintings.
- outer
describes the surface or side that faces away from the centre
文法句型
inward + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun (attributive position). Not typically used in comparative or superlative forms ('more inward', 'most inward').
常見錯誤
2. relating to a person's thoughts, feelings, or spiritual life, rather than their
relating to a person's thoughts, feelings, or spiritual life, rather than their physical body or material surroundings
Yoga and meditation helped Amara find a deep sense of inward calm.
inward + calm / peace / stillness
Ingrid's diary was a private record of her inward thoughts and struggles.
The elderly monk in the candlelit temple spoke about inward growth over material success while the young visitors glanced at their phones.
Despite her cheerful smile, Noa was dealing with a lot of inward pain.
- outward
describes what is visible on the outside or related to the physical world
文法句型
inward + noun
用法筆記
Typically describes a contrast between what is happening inside a person's mind or spirit and what is visible on the outside. Frequently paired with abstract nouns like 'peace', 'strength', 'life', and 'world'.
3. spending a lot of time focusing on your own thoughts, feelings, and inner experi
spending a lot of time focusing on your own thoughts, feelings, and inner experiences rather than engaging with the world around you
After the accident, Chioma became more inward and rarely spoke about her feelings.
The poet's inward nature kept her in her study for hours, filling notebook after notebook with verse.
inward + nature / disposition / personality
Henrik had always been an inward child who preferred reading to playing with others.
Elena's inward gaze told Diego that she was lost in thought again.
- introspective
more precise and clinical; often used in psychology
- contemplative
suggests a calm, thoughtful quality rather than simply being absorbed in oneself
- thoughtful
more general and positive; does not necessarily imply deep self-examination
- outgoing
describes someone who is sociable and engaged with others
- extroverted
a personality type focused on external stimulation and social interaction
文法句型
inward + noun
用法筆記
Used to describe a personality trait or temporary state of being absorbed in one's own thoughts. Stronger and slightly more formal than 'thoughtful' or 'reflective'.
4. known or understood very well because of a deep, personal connection or long exp
known or understood very well because of a deep, personal connection or long experience
The two sisters shared an inward understanding that did not need words.
inward + understanding / knowledge / familiarity
After thirty years at the same firm, the partners had an inward trust in each other.
Only the caretaker's inward knowledge of every hidden pipe could save the old boiler before winter.
The old friends exchanged an inward smile, remembering their school days.
- superficial
describes a relationship or understanding that is shallow or surface-level
- external
describes knowledge or connections that do not come from deep personal involvement
文法句型
inward + noun
用法筆記
Typically paired with nouns describing a shared connection ('understanding', 'trust', 'knowlege', 'joke'). The relationship or knowledge is so deep that outsiders are excluded from it.
5. turning or pointing toward the centre or inside of something, rather than away f
turning or pointing toward the centre or inside of something, rather than away from it
The inward flow of the river pulled small branches toward the middle.
inward + flow / movement / pressure / force
Kenji noticed an inward bend in the metal pipe that was blocking the water.
The inward pressure of the water threatened to crack the dam.
An inward slope at the top of the cliff made the climb impossible.
- inward-facing
more explicit when describing the direction something faces; less common in formal writing
- outward
describes movement or direction away from the centre toward the outside
文法句型
inward + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (INNER SURFACE): sense 1 describes a static location ('the inward wall'), while this sense describes a direction or movement ('an inward slope').
inwards — noun
1. the deepest nature of something, which is hidden and not shown on the outside
the deepest nature of something, which is hidden and not shown on the outside
The novel explores the inward of human nature by following one family's quiet sacrifices during the long war.
Professor Aisha Okonkwo spent three years in the monastery archives seeking the inward of the ancient manuscript.
the inward of + concrete noun phrase
Kwame's poem captures the inward of grief — the way a father keeps his son's shoes beside the door.
The documentary captured the inward of village life — the unspoken trust that held the community together for generations.
文法句型
the inward of [something]
用法筆記
Very rare in modern everyday English. Mostly found in literary, philosophical, or formal writing. The plural form 'inwards' is far more common for the 'innards' sense.
2. the organs inside the body of a person or animal, especially the stomach and int
the organs inside the body of a person or animal, especially the stomach and intestines
The hunter carefully removed the deer's inwards before cooking the meat.
The fish's inwards spilled onto the dock as Omar cleaned his catch.
remove / clean / spill + the inwards
Vikram watched the butcher remove the chicken's inwards with skilled hands.
The old fisherman could tell the fish was sick from the colour of its inwards.
文法句型
the inwards
用法筆記
Always takes a plural verb ('the inwards are...'). More informal and specific than 'internal organs'. In American English, 'innards' is the more common term.