OUTWARDNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does outwardness mean? 

• OUTWARDNESS (noun)
  The noun OUTWARDNESS has 3 senses:

1. concern with outward things or material objects as opposed to the mind and spirit

2. the quality or state of being outside or directed toward or relating to the outside or exterior

3. a concern with or responsiveness to outward things (especially material objects as opposed to ideal concepts)

  Familiarity information: OUTWARDNESS used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OUTWARDNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Concern with outward things or material objects as opposed to the mind and spirit

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

an abstract conception with feelings of reality and spatial outwardness attached to it

Hypernyms ("outwardness" is a kind of...):

cognitive state; state of mind (the state of a person's cognitive processes)

Antonym:

inwardness (preoccupation especially with one's attitudes and ethical or ideological values)

Derivation:

outward (relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The quality or state of being outside or directed toward or relating to the outside or exterior

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

externality; outwardness

Context example:

the outwardness of the world

Hypernyms ("outwardness" is a kind of...):

position; spatial relation (the spatial property of a place where or way in which something is situated)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "outwardness"):

worldliness (concern with worldly affairs to the neglect of spiritual needs)

Antonym:

inwardness (the quality or state of being inward or internal)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A concern with or responsiveness to outward things (especially material objects as opposed to ideal concepts)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

hearty showmanship and all-round outwardness

Hypernyms ("outwardness" is a kind of...):

extraversion; extroversion ((psychology) an extroverted disposition; concern with what is outside the self)

Attribute:

outward (relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind)

Antonym:

inwardness (preoccupation with what concerns human inner nature (especially ethical or ideological values))

Derivation:

outward (relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind)