Inwardly means inside yourself, in your private thoughts and feelings that others can't see. When you feel something inwardly, you're experiencing it in your mind or heart without showing it outwardly on your face or in your actions.

Picture a student who just made an embarrassing mistake in front of the whole class. Outwardly, she might smile and shrug like it's no big deal. But inwardly, she might be cringing and wishing she could disappear. Or imagine someone who looks calm during a scary movie but is inwardly terrified.

The word captures that gap between what's happening inside you and what others can see. You might be inwardly celebrating when you get good news but trying to stay composed on the outside. A character in a story might be inwardly seething with anger while speaking politely. A nervous performer might be inwardly panicking while looking confident on stage.

Inwardly is the opposite of outwardly. Your outward appearance is what the world sees: your expressions, words, and actions. Your inward experience is what only you know: your real thoughts, true feelings, and honest reactions.