Outward and outwards are both correct English words, but they can differ slightly in meaning, usage, and regional preference. If you’ve come across “outward or outwards” and wondered which form to use, the choice often depends on whether you’re describing movement, direction, appearance, or something directed away from the center. Both words are closely connected to direction, movement, position, appearance, external features, and the idea of moving or extending away from something.
The outward or outwards meaning can refer to something moving or extending toward the outside. Outward can work as an adjective or adverb, while outwards is primarily used as an adverb. In many contexts, the two forms can be used interchangeably, especially when describing movement away from a central point. However, outward is generally more common in American English, while outwards is more common in British English. Related expressions such as outward, outwards, outside, external, exterior, away, and toward the outside can also have slightly different uses.
In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between “outward” and “outwards,” when to use each word, whether “outward” or “outwards” is preferred in American and British English, and how to use both forms correctly in sentences. You’ll also see clear examples to make the distinction easy to understand.
By the end, you’ll know exactly when to use outward or outwards and how to choose the right form naturally and correctly in different contexts.
Outward vs. Outwards: What’s the Difference?
Outward and outwards usually have the same basic meaning: toward the outside or away from the center. The key grammatical difference is that outward can function as both an adjective and an adverb, whereas outwards is normally an adverb.
| Word | Main function | Meaning | Typical usage |
| Outward | Adjective and adverb | Toward the outside; external | Very common in American English |
| Outwards | Adverb | Toward the outside | More common in British English |
Consider these examples:
- The door opens outward.
- The door opens outwards.
- She showed no outward signs of fear.
- The branches spread outwards.
The first two sentences mean essentially the same thing. The third sentence uses outward as an adjective, so outwards cannot replace it.
That distinction becomes important when you move beyond simple direction.
What Does Outward Mean?
Outward means directed toward the outside, moving away from a center, or relating to something visible or external. It can function as an adjective or an adverb. It can describe physical direction, appearance, behavior, or a movement away from an internal point.
For example, you can describe an outward movement, an outward appearance, or something moving outward from the center.
Outward as an Adverb
As an adverb, outward describes movement or direction toward the outside.
Examples include:
- The door opens outward.
- The branches grow outward.
- The waves moved outward from the boat.
- Push the handle outward.
- The force travels outward from the point of impact.
Here, outward tells you where something moves or points.
It often appears after a verb:
The walls lean outward.
It can also modify a phrase involving direction:
The pressure spreads outward from the center.
Outward as an Adjective
As an adjective, outward describes something external, visible, or directed toward the outside.
Examples:
- She showed no outward signs of concern.
- His outward appearance was calm.
- The outward surface was damaged.
- They focused on the outward appearance of the building.
- The change had an immediate outward effect.
This is one of the clearest reasons you cannot always substitute outwards for outward.
You can say:
His outward appearance was confident.
But you cannot say:
His outwards appearance was confident.
Outwards does not normally function as an adjective.
What Does Outwards Mean?
Outwards is an adverb meaning toward the outside or away from the center. It describes the direction of an action or movement.
For example:
- The doors open outwards.
- The branches spread outwards.
- The ripples moved outwards.
- The crowd moved outwards toward the exits.
The -s does not create a completely different meaning. It is part of a traditional adverbial form.
Why Does Outwards Have an “S”?
The -s in outwards comes from an established English pattern in which directional adverbs developed forms ending in -s.
You can see the same pattern in words such as:
- toward / towards
- forward / forwards
- backward / backwards
- upward / upwards
- downward / downwards
- inward / inwards
- outward / outwards
In these pairs, the longer -s form is not automatically incorrect. English simply allows both forms in many cases.
The important point is grammatical function. Outwards is normally an adverb, while outward can serve as either an adverb or adjective.
Outward or Outwards in American English
Outward is generally the more natural choice in American English, particularly when used as an adverb of direction.
For example:
The door opens outward.
sounds very natural in American English.
However, outwards is still grammatically correct. American English speakers may use it, particularly in certain formal, literary, or descriptive contexts.
You may therefore encounter:
The branches extend outward from the trunk.
and:
The branches extend outwards from the trunk.
Both sentences are correct.
If you’re writing for a primarily American audience, outward is usually the safer default because it is concise and widely accepted.
Outward or Outwards in British English
British English commonly uses both outward and outwards.
However, outwards can sound particularly natural when describing physical movement or direction.
For example:
The doors open outwards.
is completely standard British English.
British speakers may also write:
The doors open outward.
There is no grammatical error in either version.
The difference is largely one of regional preference and style rather than correctness.
Outward vs. Outwards in a Sentence
The easiest way to understand the difference is to compare the words in real sentences.
Both can describe movement toward the outside:
The door swung outward.
The door swung outwards.
Both are correct.
But only outward works naturally as an adjective:
The building’s outward appearance was impressive.
You cannot replace outward with outwards here.
Examples With Outward
Here are several examples of outward used naturally:
- The gate opens outward.
- The branches spread outward from the trunk.
- The force moved outward from the center.
- The walls curve outward slightly.
- The change had an outward effect on the organization.
- She maintained a calm outward appearance.
- The pressure pushes outward against the container.
- The cracks extended outward from the impact point.
Notice that outward can describe both physical direction and something external or visible.
Examples With Outwards
Examples of outwards include:
- The doors open outwards.
- The branches grow outwards.
- The waves spread outwards.
- The crowd moved outwards toward the exits.
- The cracks spread outwards across the surface.
- The petals curve outwards as they open.
- The pressure forces the material outwards.
- The smoke drifted outwards into the open air.
In each example, outwards acts as an adverb.
Can You Replace Outward With Outwards?
Sometimes, but not always. You can often replace outward with outwards when outward functions as an adverb describing movement or direction.
For example:
The door opens outward.
can become:
The door opens outwards.
However, you cannot make the same substitution when outward functions as an adjective.
She showed no outward signs of fear.
Here, outward modifies signs. Using outwards would be incorrect.
A useful test is simple: if the word describes a noun, use outward. If it describes movement toward the outside, either outward or outwards may work.
Outward vs. Outwards in American and British English
The American-British difference is mainly about preference, not correctness.
| Usage | American English | British English |
| Outward as an adjective | Very common | Very common |
| Outward as an adverb | Very common | Common |
| Outwards as an adverb | Correct | Very common |
| Outwards as an adjective | Incorrect | Incorrect |
For American readers, outward often feels more direct:
The door opens outward.
For British readers, outwards may sound more idiomatic:
The door opens outwards.
Neither version changes the basic meaning.
If you’re writing content for an international audience, either is acceptable when used correctly. If consistency matters, choose one style and stick with it.
Is Outwards a Correct Word?
Yes. Outwards is a completely correct English word. It functions as an adverb and means toward the outside or away from the center.
For example:
The branches spread outwards.
There is nothing grammatically wrong with this sentence.
Why Some People Think Outwards Is Wrong
Some writers mistakenly assume that outwards is incorrect because American English often favors the shorter outward.
That assumption comes from confusing regional preference with grammar.
English contains many pairs with and without -s, including:
- toward / towards
- forward / forwards
- backward / backwards
- upward / upwards
- downward / downwards
- inward / inwards
- outward / outwards
The existence of the shorter form does not make the longer form wrong.
Outwards is standard English.
Is Outward a Correct Word?
Yes. Outward is also completely correct.
It has two major grammatical roles.
As an adjective:
The outward appearance of the house was unchanged.
As an adverb:
The doors open outward.
That flexibility makes outward especially useful in American English and in concise technical writing.
Outward vs. Outwards: Which One Should You Use?
Choose outward or outwards based on grammatical function, audience, and style.
Use “outward” when:
Use outward when:
- You need an adjective before a noun.
- You’re writing for an American audience.
- You want a concise directional adverb.
- You’re describing an external or visible characteristic.
- You’re writing technical instructions where brevity helps.
Examples:
- outward movement
- outward appearance
- outward pressure
- outward direction
- outward curve
- move outward
Use “outwards” when:
Use outwards when:
- You’re using the word as an adverb.
- You’re writing in British English and prefer the traditional form.
- You’re describing movement toward the outside.
- The context naturally favors a longer directional adverb.
Examples:
- The door opens outwards.
- The branches spread outwards.
- The force moves outwards.
- The petals curve outwards.
Remember one important restriction: outwards cannot normally function as an adjective.
Common Phrases With Outward
Outward Direction
Outward direction refers to movement or orientation toward the outside.
The arrow indicates the outward direction of the flow.
Outward Movement
Outward movement describes movement away from a central point.
The outward movement of the crowd slowed near the entrance.
Outward Flow
Outward flow describes something moving away from a source or center.
The pump creates an outward flow of air.
This phrase appears frequently in engineering, fluid dynamics, and other technical contexts.
Outward Curve
An outward curve bends away from the center or surrounding surface.
The wall has a slight outward curve.
Outward Feelings
Outward feelings refers to emotions or reactions that become visible or expressed externally.
His outward feelings did not reveal how worried he really was.
More commonly, you may encounter outward expression of feelings.
Turn Outward
Turn outward means to rotate or direct something toward the outside.
Rotate your palms outward.
It can also have a figurative meaning:
The organization began to turn outward and engage more with the community.
Look Outward
Look outward can describe literally looking outside or figuratively considering the wider world.
After years of focusing on internal problems, the company started to look outward.
The figurative sense is particularly common in business, leadership, and personal-development writing.
Common Phrases With Outwards
Common expressions using outwards include:
- move outwards
- spread outwards
- expand outwards
- extend outwards
- open outwards
- bend outwards
- curve outwards
- point outwards
- flow outwards
- grow outwards
- push outwards
- expand outwards from the center
These phrases all use outwards as an adverb.
Compare:
The branches spread outwards.
with:
The branches have an outward spread.
Both are grammatical, but the first uses outwards as an adverb, while the second uses outward as part of an adjective phrase.
Outward vs. Outwards: Common Mistakes
Treating Outwards as Incorrect
The most common mistake is assuming that the -s makes outwards wrong.
It doesn’t.
The doors open outwards.
is grammatically correct.
If you’re writing American English, you may prefer outward, but preference isn’t the same thing as correctness.
Using Outwards as an Adjective
This mistake is more significant.
Don’t write:
❌ The outwards appearance was unusual.
Write:
✅ The outward appearance was unusual.
Outward can modify a noun. Outwards normally cannot.
Assuming American and British English Must Use Different Spellings
The distinction isn’t absolute.
British and American English both use outward and outwards.
The difference is primarily frequency and preference. American English tends to favor the shorter outward as an adverb, while British English often accepts and favors outwards.
So don’t treat the two forms as separate British and American spellings in the way that color and colour differ.
Outward vs. Outwards vs. Outside
These three words overlap, but they aren’t interchangeable in every sentence.
Outward generally describes direction toward the outside or something external.
Outwards also describes direction toward the outside, but it functions as an adverb.
Outside usually identifies an external location or position.
Compare:
The door opens outward.
The door opens outwards.
The children are playing outside.
The first two describe direction. The third describes location.
That distinction makes outside a poor substitute in many sentences.
Outward vs. Outwards vs. Outwardly
Outwardly is related to outward, but it usually means in appearance, behavior, or visible expression, rather than simply toward the outside.
For example:
The door opens outward.
Here, outward describes physical direction.
Outwardly, she appeared calm.
Here, outwardly means that her calmness was visible from an external perspective.
Compare These Three Sentences
The doors open outward.
This describes physical direction.
The doors open outwards.
This means essentially the same thing and uses the alternative adverbial form.
Outwardly, the building looked unchanged.
This has a different meaning. It refers to external appearance rather than physical movement.
A quick rule:
Outward/outwards = toward the outside.
Outwardly = externally or apparently.
Outward or Outwards: Quick Grammar Guide
Adverb of Direction
When describing movement toward the outside, both forms can work:
The door opened outward.
The door opened outwards.
Adjective
When modifying a noun, use outward:
outward movement
outward direction
Do not use outwards in these constructions.
Mental or Emotional Adverb
Outwardly is usually the better choice when you’re talking about someone’s visible emotional state or behavior.
Outwardly, he seemed relaxed.
Here, outwardly means on the surface or as seen by others.
How to Remember Outward vs. Outwards
Use this simple memory trick:
Outward can go two ways grammatically. Outwards only goes one way.
In other words:
- Outward → adjective or adverb
- Outwards → adverb
If you’re describing a noun, choose outward.
outward appearance
If you’re describing movement, outward or outwards may work.
Move outward.
Move outwards.
If you’re describing visible behavior or appearance, consider outwardly.
Outwardly, she seemed confident.
This three-part distinction eliminates most mistakes.
Outward or Outwards: Examples in Everyday English
Doors and Windows
Doors and windows provide some of the clearest examples.
The emergency door opens outward.
The emergency door opens outwards.
Both are correct.
However:
The outward-opening door requires more space outside the building.
Here, outward functions as an adjective.
Physical Movement
When something moves away from a central point, both adverbial forms can work.
The crowd moved outward.
The crowd moved outwards.
The water spread outward from the broken pipe.
The water spread outwards from the broken pipe.
The choice depends largely on regional preference and style.
Shapes and Objects
Use outward or outwards when describing a shape that bends, expands, or points away from its center.
The sides curve outward.
The sides curve outwards.
But when the word modifies a noun:
The vase has an outward curve.
Not:
The vase has an outwards curve.
Thoughts and Feelings
Outward and outwardly can also appear in figurative contexts.
For example:
She showed no outward signs of anxiety.
Outwardly, he remained calm.
The first sentence describes visible signs. The second describes someone’s apparent emotional state.
You wouldn’t normally use outwards in either construction.
Outward or Outwards in Formal and Academic Writing
Both outward and outwards are acceptable in formal writing when used correctly.
That said, outward often works particularly well in academic, scientific, and professional writing because it is concise and can function as an adjective.
For example:
The outward movement of the fluid increased as pressure rose.
This sentence is compact and precise.
Academic writers should focus less on choosing the supposedly “correct” regional form and more on grammatical function, consistency, and clarity.
If your document uses American English, outward may be the more natural choice for directional adverbial uses. In British English, outwards is equally legitimate.
A Note on Scientific and Technical Writing
Technical writing often benefits from precise directional language.
For example:
Heat flows outward from the center.
The force acts outward from the surface.
The radial pressure moves outward.
In such contexts, outward is common because it keeps technical descriptions concise.
However, outwards isn’t grammatically wrong:
Heat flows outwards from the center.
If you’re preparing a technical document, follow the style guide or regional convention used by your organization.
A Simple Case Study: Choosing Between Outward and Outwards
Imagine you’re writing instructions for an emergency exit.
Your first sentence says:
The door opens outward.
This is concise and correct.
You could also write:
The door opens outwards.
That’s also correct, particularly in British English.
Now suppose you describe the door itself:
The door has an outward-opening mechanism.
Here, outward is an adjective.
You cannot write:
❌ The door has an outwards-opening mechanism.
Next, you describe the user’s movement:
Move outward from the doorway.
Or:
Move outwards from the doorway.
Again, both are grammatically acceptable.
Finally, you describe the appearance of a person using the doorway:
Outwardly, the employee appeared calm.
That’s outwardly, not outwards.
The case study reveals the practical rule: don’t choose between outward and outwards based solely on the presence of the letter S. First identify what job the word performs in the sentence.
Outward or Outwards: Facts to Remember
Here are the key facts to keep in mind:
- Outward is correct.
- Outwards is also correct.
- Both can function as adverbs describing movement toward the outside.
- Outward can also function as an adjective.
- Outwards normally functions only as an adverb.
- American English often favors outward.
- British English commonly uses both forms and often favors outwards for directional movement.
- You can usually replace adverbial outward with outwards without changing the meaning.
- You cannot normally replace adjective outward with outwards.
- Outwardly has a different meaning and usually relates to visible appearance or behavior.
- Outside refers more directly to location rather than direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is outward or outwards correct?
Both outward and outwards are correct. They can both function as adverbs meaning toward the outside. Outward can also work as an adjective, while outwards normally cannot.
Is outwards grammatically correct?
Yes. Outwards is a standard English adverb meaning toward the outside or away from a center. For example, “The doors open outwards” is grammatically correct.
Is outward more common in American English?
Generally, yes. American English often favors outward rather than outwards when describing movement or direction. However, outwards remains correct and can still appear in American writing.
Is outwards more common in British English?
Outwards is commonly used in British English, particularly as an adverb describing physical movement or direction. However, British English also uses outward, so the shorter form isn’t wrong.
Can outward and outwards be used interchangeably?
They can often be used interchangeably when they function as adverbs describing movement toward the outside.
For example:
The branches grow outward.
The branches grow outwards.
However, outward cannot always be replaced by outwards because outward also functions as an adjective.
Is outward an adjective or an adverb?
Outward can be both an adjective and an adverb.
Adjective:
outward appearance
Adverb:
move outward
Is outwards an adjective?
No. Outwards is normally an adverb.
Use outward when the word modifies a noun:
outward appearance
Not:
❌ outwards appearance
What is the difference between outward and outwardly?
Outward usually means toward the outside or external. Outwardly generally means externally, apparently, or as something appears to others.
The door swings outward.
Outwardly, she seemed relaxed.
What is the difference between outward and outside?
Outward usually describes direction toward the outside, while outside generally refers to an external location or position.
The door opens outward.
The children are waiting outside.
Should I use outward or outwards in American English?
For American English, outward is usually the safest choice, especially in concise or technical writing. Still, outwards is grammatically correct.
Should I use outward or outwards in British English?
Both are correct. Outwards is particularly natural when describing physical movement, but outward is also standard. Choose based on your preferred style and remain consistent.
Conclusion: Outward or Outwards?
Outward and outwards are both correct English words. When they function as adverbs of direction, they can usually describe the same movement toward the outside.
The biggest grammatical distinction is simple: outward can be an adjective or an adverb, while outwards is normally an adverb.
So write:
The door opens outward.
or:
The door opens outwards.
Both are correct.
But write:
The outward appearance was unchanged.
not “the outwards appearance.”
For American English, outward is often the more natural choice. In British English, outwards is widely used for directional movement. Neither form is inherently more correct.
Quick Answer
Outward or outwards? Both are correct. Use outward as an adjective or adverb, and use outwards as an adverb meaning “toward the outside.” In American English, outward is often preferred; in British English, outwards is also very common.
The easiest rule: If the word modifies a noun, use outward. If it describes movement toward the outside, outward or outwards can usually work.
