backward B2 Topic:Space, Position & Direction Also spelled backerder and backwards US /ˈbækwɚd/ UK /ˈbæk.wə(ɹ)d/ See IPA manual Freq #11531 Meanings 1 adv In the direction behind you; toward the back. She took a step backward to get a better view. 2 adj Directed or facing toward the back. He gave a quick backward glance to check the road. 3 adj Less developed or advanced than others. The new factory brought jobs to an economically backward region. 4 adj Shy or unwilling to act or come forward. He's not backward about sharing his opinions. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adv · in the direction behind... backwards 2 adj · directed or facing toward... rearward More datedobsoleteprimitivereversedly ↔ Opposites forwardforwards Word family Forms backwardness Derived forms ass-backwardbackward-compatiblebackward-lookingbackward-lookingnessbackwardationbackwardismbackwardlybackwardnesscambackunbackward Common collocations reasoning backward Verb + adverb Etymology AI details From Middle English bakwarde, abakward, equivalent to back (adverb) + -ward. Cognate with Old Frisian bekward (“backward”). bakwarde Middle English View etymology graph -> Topics Space, Position & Direction External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # backward **Type:** Word **Level:** B2 **Part of speech:** adv, adj **IPA (US):** /ˈbækwɚd/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈbæk.wə(ɹ)d/ **Frequency rank:** 11531 ## Meanings 1. In the direction behind you; toward the back. 2. Directed or facing toward the back. 3. Less developed or advanced than others. 4. Shy or unwilling to act or come forward. ## Examples - She took a step backward to get a better view. - He gave a quick backward glance to check the road. - The new factory brought jobs to an economically backward region. - He's not backward about sharing his opinions. ## Synonyms - dated - obsolete - primitive - reversedly ## Antonyms - forward - forwards ## Derived Forms - ass-backward - backward-compatible - backward-looking - backward-lookingness - backwardation - backwardism - backwardly - backwardness - camback - unbackward ## Roots and Affixes - Root: bakwarde - Affix: -ward - in the direction of ## Etymology From Middle English bakwarde, abakward, equivalent to back (adverb) + -ward. Cognate with Old Frisian bekward (“backward”). ## AI Etymology Backward comes from Middle English bakwarde, abakward, equivalent to back (adverb) + -ward. Cognate with Old Frisian bekward (“backward”). ## Topics - Space, Position & Direction markdown