towards

Question

Hello.I have several questions about 'towards.'1. Dictinaries say 'towards' means "just before." Then, if it is 5:03 PM, one does not say "It is towards 5'o clock" although he will if it is 4:57 PM?2. Does 'towards' can be put in front of a noun which is not about time or place to mean 'near' or 'about?'For example, does it make sense to say "There were towards a hundered horses" to mean "There were about a hundred horses?"Thank you.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

langtraveler1. Dictinaries say 'towards' means "just before." Then, if it is 5:03 PM, one does not say "It is towards 5'o clock" although he will if it is 4:57 PM?

No.
In American English "It is towards 5:00 pm" does not make sense.

Here are some examples:
It was getting towards noon when our fire alarm went off. They tend to have fire drills at the most inconvenient times.
If you're like most Americans, you spend 75 percent of your day sitting in an office chair, keying your way toward 5 p.m.
Richie Phillips had talked on the phone for nearly two hours and as the clock crept toward 2 a.m., umpire Jerry Crawford tried to end the conversation.
You sleepily watch the second hand on the clock inch toward noon.
Toward noon, Niles emerged from the library, determined to grab a bite of lunch.

It is nearly 5:00 (at 4:57).
It's a bit / little/ few minutes after 5:00 (at 5:03).

langtravelerFor example, does it make sense to say "There were towards a hundred horses" to mean "There were about a hundred horses?"

No.

Langtraveler · Answer

Thank you, Alphecca Stars.

towards

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