outward - Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

The Word “Outward”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages

The word “outward” is used in both literal and figurative contexts to describe things that are directed away from a central point or focus. It suggests an external or outward-facing position, movement, or appearance, often in contrast to something internal or inward-facing. “Outward” is a versatile term that can be used in a variety of scenarios, from describing physical movement to expressing the visible manifestation of emotions or behaviors.

This article will explore the different meanings of “outward”, how it is used in different contexts, and how it is translated into 30 different languages.

Meaning of “Outward” in Different Contexts

1. Directed Toward the Outside (Adjective)

The most straightforward meaning of “outward” refers to something that is directed away from a central or interior point, typically towards the exterior or outer side. This can refer to movement, appearance, or direction.

Example: “The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.”
(Here, “outward” refers to the exterior or outer look of the building.)

2. External (Adjective)

“Outward” can also describe anything that pertains to the external aspects of a person or situation. It focuses on what is visible or perceivable, rather than what is internal or hidden.

Example: “Despite his outward calm, he was nervous inside.”
(In this case, “outward” refers to the visible or apparent behavior, which contrasts with his internal feelings.)

3. Moving or Directed Toward the Exterior (Adjective)

As an adjective, “outward” can also describe any action or movement that is directed away from the center or interior, such as the expansion of a city, the movement of people, or the spread of something.

Example: “The outward flow of traffic was heavy during rush hour.”
(Here, “outward” indicates the movement of traffic from the central area toward the outer parts of the city.)

4. On the Outside (Adjective/Adverb)

“Outward” is sometimes used as an adverb, describing the direction or manner in which something is directed or positioned.

Example: “She faced outward, looking at the horizon.”
(Here, “outward” describes the direction she is facing — toward the outside or away from the interior.)

5. Relating to the Visible or Superficial (Adjective)

“Outward” can also refer to things that are related to appearances or superficial qualities, as opposed to deeper or internal aspects.

Example: “The outward signs of prosperity didn’t reflect the family’s true financial situation.”
(In this example, “outward” refers to what is visible or apparent, not the underlying reality.)

Translations of the Word “Outward” in 30 Languages

Below is a table showing how the word “outward” is translated into 30 different languages, along with example sentences for each.

Language	Translation	Example Sentence (in the target language)	English Translation of Example
English	Outward	“The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Spanish	Exterior	“El aspecto exterior del edificio era moderno y elegante.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
French	Extérieur	“L’apparence extérieure du bâtiment était moderne et élégante.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
German	Äußere	“Das äußere Erscheinungsbild des Gebäudes war modern und schlank.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Italian	Esterno	“L’aspetto esterno dell’edificio era moderno e elegante.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Portuguese	Exterior	“A aparência exterior do edifício era moderna e elegante.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Russian	Внешний (Vneshniy)	“Внешний вид здания был современным и стильным.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Chinese (Simplified)	外部 (Wàibù)	“建筑物的外部外观现代而光滑。”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Japanese	外部 (Gaibu)	“建物の外観は現代的でスマートでした。”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Korean	외부 (Oebu)	“건물의 외관은 현대적이고 세련되었습니다.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Hindi	बाहरी (Bāharī)	“भवन की बाहरी उपस्थिति आधुनिक और चिकनी थी।”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Bengali	বাহ্যিক (Bāhyik)	“ভবনের বাহ্যিক চেহারা আধুনিক এবং স্লিক ছিল।”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Urdu	بیرونی (Bīronī)	“عمارت کی بیرونی شکل جدید اور چمکدار تھی۔”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Turkish	Dışsal	“Bina dışsal olarak modern ve şıktı.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Dutch	Uitwendig	“Het uitwendige uiterlijk van het gebouw was modern en stijlvol.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Greek	Εξωτερικός (Exoterikos)	“Η εξωτερική εμφάνιση του κτιρίου ήταν σύγχρονη και κομψή.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Swedish	Yttre	“Byggnadens yttre utseende var modernt och elegant.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Danish	Ydre	“Bygningens ydre udseende var moderne og stilfuldt.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Finnish	Ulkoinen	“Rakennuksen ulkonäkö oli moderni ja tyylikäs.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Norwegian	Ytre	“Bygningens ytre utseende var moderne og stilig.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Polish	Zewnętrzny	“Zewnętrzny wygląd budynku był nowoczesny i elegancki.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Czech	Vnější	“Vnější vzhled budovy byl moderní a elegantní.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Hungarian	Külső	“Az épület külső megjelenése modern és elegáns volt.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Hebrew	חיצוני (Chitzoni)	“ההופעה החיצונית של הבניין הייתה מודרנית ומסוגננת.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Thai	ภายนอก (Phāynok)	“ลักษณะภายนอกของอาคารมีความทันสมัยและเรียบหรู.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Vietnamese	Bên ngoài	“Ngoại hình của tòa nhà hiện đại và tinh tế.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Indonesian	Eksternal	“Penampilan eksternal gedung itu modern dan ramping.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Filipino	Panlabas	“Ang panlabas na itsura ng gusali ay moderno at makinis.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Malay	Luaran	“Penampilan luaran bangunan itu moden dan bergaya.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Swahili	Nje	“Muonekano wa nje wa jengo ulikuwa wa kisasa na mtindo.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)
Arabic	خارجي (Khārijī)	“المظهر الخارجي للمبنى كان عصريًا وأنيقًا.”	(The outward appearance of the building was modern and sleek.)

Final Thoughts

The word “outward” has a broad range of applications, from describing external appearances to physical directions and behaviors. Whether referring to the external characteristics of an object, a person’s outward demeanor, or the movement of things in a particular direction, “outward” conveys a sense of being directed away from a center or internal focus.

Its usage is widespread, with clear equivalents in many languages, demonstrating its universal relevance. Understanding the different translations and contexts in which “outward” is used can enhance communication, particularly when discussing appearances, directions, or behaviors that are external or visible.