outward-looking
UK[ˈaʊtwədˌlʊkɪŋ]US[ˈaʊtwərdˌlʊkɪŋ]
adj
interested in or considering other people, places, things, or ideas; not limited to one's own country or group
adj
(of an organization or government) open to new ideas and willing to communicate and cooperate with others
Morpheme Breakdown
outward
look
ing
outward
direction
look
action
ing
adjective suffix
Etymology
the compound adjective "outward-looking" is a modern english formation built from native germanic elements. its first component, "outward," originates from the old english 'ūtweard,' a directional term combining "out" with the suffix denoting "toward." the second component, "looking," derives from the old english verb 'lōcian,' meaning to use one's sight or direct one's attention. the suffix "-ing" transforms the verbal action into an adjectival quality. the term's literal sense of "gazing outward" evolved metaphorically in the 20th century to describe an attitude or policy that is open, inclusive, and engaged with the wider world, contrasting with an inward-focused or isolationist stance.
Analysis
Structure: outward (direction) + look (action) + ing (adjective suffix)
outward: from old english 'ūtweard' (ūt "out" + -weard "toward"), indicating direction away from a center or interior.
look: from old english 'lōcian', meaning "to see, gaze, observe".
ing: a suffix forming present participles and adjectives from verbs, from old english '-ende' and '-ing'.
Examples
the new director has an outward-looking approach that encourages international collaboration.
a successful business must be outward-looking to identify global market trends.
the university promotes an outward-looking curriculum that prepares students for a connected world.