Definition of BACKWARD

backward

Adjective

  • directed or facing toward the back or rear
    • "a backward view"
  • (used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature
    • "a backward lover"

Adjective Satellite

  • retarded in intellectual development
  • having made less than normal progress
    • "an economically backward country"

Adverb

  • Directed toward the back or the starting point.
  • at or to or toward the back or rear
    • "tripped when he stepped backward"
  • in a manner or order or direction the reverse of normal
    • "it's easy to get the `i' and the `e' backward in words like `seize' and `siege'"
    • "the child put her jersey on backward"
  • in or to or toward a past time
    • "lovers of the past looking fondly backward"

Adj

  • Indicating position or direction.
  • Situated toward or at the rear of something.
  • Indicating position or direction.
  • Acting or moving in the direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing.
  • Indicating position or direction.
  • Acting or moving in the direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
  • Indicating position or direction.
  • Acting or moving oppositely to the desired direction of progress.
  • Indicating position or direction.
  • Reversed in order or sequence.
  • Expressing lack of development or advancement.
  • Retarded in development; not as advanced as would be expected.
  • Expressing lack of development or advancement.
  • Of a culture, country, practice etc., undeveloped or unsophisticated.
  • Expressing lack of development or advancement.
  • Slow to apprehend; having difficulties in learning.
  • Expressing lack of development or advancement.
  • Lacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.
  • Expressing lack of development or advancement.
  • Late or behindhand.
  • Reluctant or unwilling to advance or act; shy.
  • Of a pawn, further behind than pawns of the same colour on adjacent files and unable to be moved forward safely.
  • On that part of the field behind the batsman's popping crease.
  • Further behind the batsman's popping crease than something else.
  • Unwilling; averse; reluctant.
  • Already past or gone; bygone.

Adv

  • At, near or towards the rear of something.
  • In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.
  • In a direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
  • Oppositely to the desired direction of progress, or from a better to a worse state.
  • In a reversed orientation; back to front.
  • In a reversed order or sequence.
  • Toward or into the past.
  • In the past.
  • By way of reflection; reflexively.

Noun

  • The state behind or past.

Examples

  • a backward child
  • a backward season
  • a backward tilt of the head
  • A palindrome reads the same backward as forward.
  • As we begin the new millennium, it behoves us to look backward as well as forward.
  • Engage the lock to prevent backward rotation of the wheel.
  • He had his cap on backward.
  • He tilted his head backward.
  • Her arm was bent backward at an odd angle.
  • His score was moving backward after a series of low-point plays.
  • In reverse gear the wheel turns backward.
  • She certainly isn’t backward in coming forward!
  • The child is backward in his school work.
  • The grandfather clock toppled backward and crashed to the ground.
  • The occasional apparent backward movement of planets is evidence that they revolve around the sun.
  • The party’s ideas and policies are very backward.
  • The passenger turned around and walked backward, towards the tail of the aircraft.
  • The silt collects in the backward part of the tank.
  • They were a backward people without any writing.
  • This backward writing is hard to read.
  • This is a backward step for the country.
  • This project seems to be going backward.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English bakwarde, abakward, equivalent to back (adverb) + -ward. Cognate with Old Frisian bekward (“backward”).

Scrabble Score: 20

backward: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
backward: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
backward: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 22

backward: valid Words With Friends Word