Inward means towards the inside, or in the mind. Inward flow, an inward glance, inward investment.
Physically it means moving towards the centre — the door opens inward. Mentally it means private and unspoken: an inward struggle, inward satisfaction. Inward investment is money coming into a country from outside and is standard economic language. Note inwards, which is the British adverb; and inwardly, meaning privately — outwardly calm and inwardly furious.
1adjectiveinwardTowards the inside.
“The door opens inward, so push it gently.”
2adjectiveprivatePrivate and unspoken.
“Despite her smile, she felt an inward sadness she couldn't share.”
inward is a direction or inner state.
Old English inweard is in plus -weard, the suffix meaning turned towards. Outward, toward and backward are built the same way.
Old English
inweard
Middle English
inward
English, today
inward
From Middle English inward, from Old English inweard, corresponding to in + ward.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA