outward
/ˈaʊtwəd/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈaʊtwɚd] /ˈaʊtwərd/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈaʊtwɚd] /ˈau̇t-wərd/ (ame, mw) · /ˈaʊt.wəd/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈaʊtwɚd] /ˈaʊt.wɚd/ (ame, ipa)
outward — adjective
- outwardpositive
- more outwardcomparative
- most outwardsuperlative
1. showing only what can be seen from the outside, not the deeper feelings, truth,
showing only what can be seen from the outside, not the deeper feelings, truth, or condition underneath.
The museum kept its outward appearance unchanged during the long restoration.
outward + noun for visible outer part
Although Jin sounded calm, his outward smile vanished after the guests left.
contrast between visible sign and private feeling
The company projected outward confidence while managers quietly planned job cuts.
Jin noticed no outward damage, but the phone would not switch on.
To outward appearances, the bakery seemed busy even after most staff had gone home.
- external
more neutral and physical; outward often contrasts the visible surface with inner reality
- apparent
focuses on what seems true; outward often modifies a visible sign or appearance
- superficial
more negative, suggesting something shallow rather than merely visible
- inner
points to hidden feelings or deeper reality
文法句型
outward + noun
to outward appearances
用法筆記
Usually appears before nouns such as 'appearance', 'sign', 'confidence', or 'calm'. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about physical direction away from a centre.
常見錯誤
2. directed away from a middle point or moving toward the outside edge of something
directed away from a middle point or moving toward the outside edge of something.
The skater used her arms to control the outward swing of her body.
outward + movement noun
Workers checked the outward flow of smoke from the tunnel fans.
outward flow from a central source
A strong outward push from the crowd knocked Brian off balance.
The rescue boat followed the outward current until it cleared the harbor mouth.
- inward
moving toward the centre or inside
文法句型
outward + movement noun
outward + flow noun
用法筆記
Most common with nouns for movement, pressure, flow, spread, or direction. Distinguish from sense 3, which is specifically about the first part of a journey.
3. travelling from your starting point to the place you are going, before the retur
travelling from your starting point to the place you are going, before the return trip begins.
Their outward flight to Seoul left just after sunrise.
outward flight before the return trip
The family slept through most of the outward coach journey to the coast.
outward journey to a destination
Rain delayed the outward train, but the return service was on time.
Shirin packed snacks for the outward drive and another bag for home.
文法句型
outward + journey noun
outward + travel noun
用法筆記
Usually comes before travel nouns such as 'flight', 'journey', 'trip', or 'drive'. It contrasts directly with return, homeward, or inbound travel.
常見錯誤
outward — adverb
1. toward the outside or away from the middle of something.
toward the outside or away from the middle of something.
When the doors opened, the crowd moved outward into the rainy street.
move outward from an enclosed place
The cracked branch bent outward over the river after the storm.
bend outward away from the trunk
As the bread baked, the dough pushed outward against the tin.
The security camera slowly rotated outward toward the parking lot.
文法句型
move + outward
bend + outward
用法筆記
Often interchangeable with 'outwards', though 'outward' is less common in everyday speech and can sound slightly more formal or literary.
常見錯誤
outward — noun
1. the visible outer appearance of a person or thing, especially when it hides what
the visible outer appearance of a person or thing, especially when it hides what is really inside.
At the school gate, his cheerful outward hid the fear he felt inside.
someone's outward contrasted with hidden feeling
The novel strips away the village's peaceful outward and shows the anger beneath it.
formal noun for outer appearance
A polished outward helped the abandoned hotel attract buyers for another year.
At dinner, her strict outward was only a shield against grief.
- appearance
the normal everyday word; outward is rarer and more literary
- exterior
more physical and less often used for emotion or character
- surface
focuses on the outer layer rather than the whole public impression
- interior
formal opposite for what lies inside
文法句型
a + adjective + outward
someone's + outward
用法筆記
Rare and literary. It is usually singular and often appears when a writer contrasts visible appearance with inner truth, feeling, or motive.