adv · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˈɪnwədli/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/ˈɪnwɚdli/
CMU ARPABET:IH1 N W ER0 D L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In an inward manner; to or toward the inside or to oneself.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
Jacob groaned inwardly when he was called on to answer the question.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: inly
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Completely, fully.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adverb
Meaning 3
with respect to private feelings
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
inwardly, she was raging
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: inside
Antonyms: outwardly
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English inward Middle English -ly English -ly English inwardly From inward + -ly.