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 dated obsolete primitivereversedly

Opposites

forward forwards

Word family

Forms backwardness

Derived forms ass-backwardbackward-compatiblebackward-lookingbackward-lookingnessbackwardationbackwardismbackwardlybackwardnesscambackunbackward

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

reasoning backward
working from an assumed result toward the evidence or steps that could support it

Verb + adverb

Idioms (1)

See all

bend over backwards
To try extremely hard to help or please someone.

Etymology

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

# 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

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