adj/adv

backward

BAK-wuhd

adj/adv

Directed or moving toward the rear, or in the opposite direction to normal or expected.

"He took a backward glance before leaving the room."

"The car rolled backward down the hill."

adj

Less developed or advanced than expected, especially describing a place, culture, or way of thinking.

"Critics called the policy backward and out of step with modern attitudes."

Reluctant or slow to act, learn, or come forward.

"He was oddly backward about asking for help even when he clearly needed it."

How to Use Backward

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFacing or moving toward the rear or the past — or, describing attitudes and places, outdated and undeveloped.

UK vs US

Both British and American English use "backward" as an adjective, but British English also commonly uses "backwards" as an adverb where American English tends to prefer "backward" for both.

Common pairings

backward step backward glance backward country move backward

Word Forms

more backward comparative, more backward comparative, backwarded past tense, backwards singular, most backward superlative, most backward superlative

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He took a _____ glance before leaving the room.

Etymology

From Middle English bakwarde, formed from back plus the directional suffix -ward, meaning "in the direction of the back."

Synonyms

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reversedly in reverse dated obsolete primitive back to front

Antonyms

forward forwards

Related Words

premature crude archaic old obsolete historic dated aft

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