backward

UK /ˈbæk.wə(ɹ)d/US /ˈbækwɚd/

adjective 17
adverb 9
noun 1
verb 1
forms 6

adjective17

Acting or moving in the direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing.
•
Acting or moving in the direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
- The occasional apparent backward movement of planets is evidence that they revolve around the sun.
- Engage the lock to prevent backward rotation of the wheel.
•
(figurative) Acting or moving oppositely to the desired direction of progress.
- This is a backward step for the country.
(figurative) Expressing lack of development or advancement.
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(figurative) Retarded in development; not as advanced as would be expected.
- The child is backward in his school work.
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(figurative) Of a culture, country, practice etc., undeveloped or unsophisticated.
- They were a backward people without any writing.
(figurative) Slow to apprehend; having difficulties in learning.
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(figurative) Lacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.
- The party’s ideas and policies are very backward.
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(figurative) Late or behindhand.
- We have had a long run of heavy, wet and squally weather; the dry season is two months backward, and the Lepidoptera have not appeared so abundantly as they should have done. — 1855
•
Reversed in order or sequence.
- This backward writing is hard to read.
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Reluctant or unwilling to advance or act; shy.
- She certainly isn’t backward in coming forward!
•
Unwilling; averse; reluctant.
- For wiser brutes were backward to be slaves. — 1713
•
Situated toward or at the rear of something.
- The silt collects in the backward part of the tank.
On that part of the field behind the batsman's popping crease.
Further behind the batsman's popping crease than something else.
Of a pawn, further behind than pawns of the same colour on adjacent files and unable to be moved forward safely.
•
(no longer used) Already past or gone; bygone.
- The soul forgets her schemes of Hope and Pride, / and flies unconscious o'er each backward year. — 1812

adverb9

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toward what is behind someone or something, opposite to the way they face
- He tilted his head backward.
- The grandfather clock toppled backward and crashed to the ground.
•
In a direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
- In reverse gear the wheel turns backward.
•
in the opposite order, starting at the end and finishing at the beginning
- A palindrome reads the same backward as forward.
•
(figurative) toward a worse state, so that progress already made is lost
- This project seems to be going backward.
•
turned so that the front is where the rear usually is
- He had his cap on backward.
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toward earlier times
- As we begin the new millennium, it behoves us to look backward as well as forward.
•
At, near or towards the rear of something.
- The passenger turned around and walked backward, towards the tail of the aircraft.
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By way of reflection; reflexively.
- the Mind can backward cast Upon herself, her understanding Light — 1599
(no longer used) In the past.

noun1

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The state behind or past.
- In the dark backward and abysm of time. — 1610

verb1

(old-fashioned) To keep back, to delay, to retard.

forms

backwarded · backwarding · backwards · more backward · backwardmost · most backward