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Onward vs Outward - What's the difference?

onward | outward |

As adjectives the difference between onward and outward

is that onward is moving forward while outward is outer; located towards the outside.

As adverbs the difference between onward and outward

is that onward is in a forward direction while outward is towards the outside; away from the centre.

As a verb outward is

to ward off; to keep out.

onward

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Moving forward.
    • There was an onward rush as the gates opened
  • Advanced in a forward direction or toward an end.
  • * Sir Philip Sidney
    • Within a while, Philoxenus came to see how onward the fruits were of his friend's labour.

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In a forward direction.
    • Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war...

    Synonyms

    * onwards

    Anagrams

    *

    outward

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl), from (etyl)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • outer; located towards the outside
  • visible, noticeable
    • By all outward indications, he's a normal happy child, but if you talk to him, you will soon realize he has some psychological problems.
  • Tending to the exterior or outside.
  • * Dryden
    • The fire will force its outward way.
  • (obsolete) Foreign; not civil or intestine.
    • an outward war
    (Hayward)

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Towards the outside; away from the centre.
  • :We are outward bound.
  • *Shakespeare
  • *:The wrong side may be turned outward .
  • (obsolete) Outwardly, in outer appearances; publicly.
  • *:
  • *:ANd thenne the quene lete make a preuy dyner in london vnto the kny?tes of the round table / and al was for to shewe outward that she had as grete Ioye in al other knyghtes of the table round as she had in sir launcelot / al only at that dyner she had sir Gawayne and his bretheren
    • Synonyms
    * outwards
    Derived terms
    * outwardness

    Etymology 2

    From .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete, rare) To ward off; to keep out.
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , V.1:
    • Ne any armour could his dint out-ward ; / But wheresoever it did light, it throughly shard.

    Anagrams

    * *