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Inward vs Within - What's the difference?

inward | within |

As adverbs the difference between inward and within

is that inward is towards the inside while within is in or into the interior; inside.

As an adjective inward

is situated on the inside; that is within, inner; belonging to the inside.

As a noun inward

is that which is inward or within; the inner parts or organs of the body; the viscera.

As a preposition within is

Indicates spatial enclosure or containment.

inward

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Situated on the inside; that is within, inner; belonging to the inside.
  • (obsolete) Intimate, closely acquainted; familiar.
  • *, II.3:
  • *:There is nothing can be added unto the daintinesse of Fulvius'' wives death, who was so inward with ''Augustus .
  • * Bible, Job xix. 19
    • All my inward friends abhorred me.
  • * Sir Philip Sidney
    • He had had occasion, by one very inward with him, to know in part the discourse of his life.

    Derived terms

    * inwards * inwardly * inwardness

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Towards the inside.
    • So much the rather, thou Celestial Light, Shine inward . — Milton.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete, chiefly, in the plural) That which is inward or within; the inner parts or organs of the body; the viscera.
    • (Jeremy Taylor)
  • * Milton
    • Then sacrificing, laid the inwards and their fat.
  • (obsolete, chiefly, in the plural) The mental faculties.
  • (obsolete) A familiar friend or acquaintance.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I was an inward of his.
    (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    *

    within

    English

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • * 1908 , (Kenneth Grahame), (The Wind in the Willows) ,
    • The Rat.
  • * 2011 , Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15210221.stm]
    • England struck back with a fine try from Ben Foden and closed to within seven points with three minutes left when Mark Cueto capitalised on a break from replacement Matt Banahan.
  • Before the specified duration ends.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=June 9, author=Owen Phillips, work=BBC Sport
    • , tyitle= Euro 2012: Netherlands 0-1 Denmark , passage=And Netherlands, backed by a typically noisy and colourful travelling support, started the second period in blistering fashion and could have had four goals within 10 minutes}}

    Antonyms

    * without * outside * outwith

    Statistics

    *

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • in or into the interior; inside