outward

outward — adjective

1. shown in a person's behaviour or in the visible state of something, without reve

1.形容詞B2
釋義

shown in a person's behaviour or in the visible state of something, without revealing the real feeling or truth underneath.

例句

During the interview, Maya kept an outward smile while her hands shook.

collocation: outward smile

The cottage had outward charm, but rain leaked through the roof.

同義詞
  • apparent

    focuses on what seems true from the outside

  • external

    more formal and often used for things seen from outside

  • surface

    stresses that the real situation may be deeper than it looks

反義詞
  • inner

    connected with hidden feelings or thoughts

  • genuine

    truly felt rather than only shown

  • real

    describes the true situation behind appearances

文法句型

outward + noun

outward sign of something

outward calm / confidence / support

用法筆記

Common with nouns such as 'appearance', 'smile', 'sign', 'calm', and 'confidence'. Distinguish from adjective/2 and adjective/3, which are about physical direction or travel, not hidden feelings.

常見錯誤

❌The garden has an outward wall.
✅The garden has an outer wall.
💡this sense is about appearance or visible behaviour, not the physical outside part of something.
❌Her outward words were very kind.
✅Her outward manner was very kind.
💡this sense usually describes the general appearance or visible behaviour, not individual words.

2. moving, pointing, or spreading from the middle toward the edge or outer side.

2.形容詞C1
釋義

moving, pointing, or spreading from the middle toward the edge or outer side.

例句

The museum doors open outward, so keep the step clear.

pattern: open outward

Light spread outward from the campfire into the dark field.

同義詞
  • increasing

    can describe movement that grows farther from the middle, but is less exact

  • spreading

    focuses on widening from a central point

  • radiating

    used especially when lines, light, or force go out from the centre

反義詞
  • inward

    toward the centre or inside

  • central

    located in the middle rather than moving away from it

文法句型

move outward

open outward

outward + movement / spread / force

用法筆記

Usually appears with verbs such as 'move', 'open', 'spread', 'push', or 'turn'. Distinguish from adjective/3, which is used for the first part of a trip rather than movement from a centre point.

常見錯誤

❌We bought outward tickets to Osaka.
✅We bought outbound tickets to Osaka.
💡this sense describes direction from a centre, not the leaving part of a journey.
❌The door has an outward paint mark.
✅The door has a mark on the outside.
💡this sense describes movement or direction, not a fixed outer position.

3. used for travel that goes from your starting place to the place you are visiting

3.形容詞B2
釋義

used for travel that goes from your starting place to the place you are visiting, before the return trip.

例句

We slept through most of the outward flight to Seoul.

collocation: outward flight

On the outward trip, the bus stopped beside a tea farm.

pattern: on the outward trip

同義詞
  • outbound

    the closest modern equivalent, especially in travel schedules

  • departing

    focuses on leaving rather than the whole first leg of a trip

  • going out

    more informal and less fixed as a travel label

反義詞
  • return

    used for the trip back

  • inbound

    common in transport for movement coming back in

  • homeward

    emphasizes travel toward home

文法句型

outward + journey / trip / flight

on the outward journey

outward route

用法筆記

Mostly used before travel nouns such as 'journey', 'trip', 'flight', and 'route'. Distinguish from adjective/2, which describes physical direction rather than a trip away from a base.

常見錯誤

❌The doors swing on the outward trip.
✅The doors swing outward.
💡this sense is only for travel, not for physical movement.
❌Our outward road from the square was narrow.
✅Our outward route from the hotel was narrow.
💡this sense usually appears with travel nouns such as 'trip', 'journey', 'flight', or 'route'.

outward — adverb