backward
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Related to backward: Backward Integration
back·ward
(băk′wərd)adj.
1. Directed or facing toward the back or rear.
2. Done or arranged in a manner or order that is opposite to previous occurrence or normal use.
3. Unwilling to act; reluctant; shy.
4. Behind others in progress or development: The technology was backward, but the system worked.
adv. or back·wards (-wərdz)
1. To or toward the back or rear.
2. With the back leading.
3. In a reverse manner or order.
4. To, toward, or into the past.
5. Toward a worse or less advanced condition.
back′ward·ly adv.
back′ward·ness n.
Usage Note: Most American English dictionaries list -wards as a spelling variant of the directional suffix -ward. Accordingly, two variants are provided for most of the adverbs that end with this suffix: backward/backwards, toward/towards, upward/upwards, and so on. Although both variants are considered acceptable, the -ward suffix is more common in American English, whereas the -wards suffix is more common in British English. This distinction is more prominent in edited prose than in casual writing or speech, possibly because many American copyeditors follow style manuals that recommend or prescribe the -ward variant. Despite this dialectal differentiation, there remains significant variation in usage among individuals and even among the different -ward words themselves. This variation is evident in the results from our 2012 usage survey: backwards and towards were deemed acceptable by 72 percent and 69 percent of Panelists, respectively, but only 38 percent found forwards to be acceptable. Note that for those -ward words that also function as adjectives, the form without the s is standard: a backward look; a westward journey.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
backward
(ˈbækwəd)adj
1. (usually prenominal) directed towards the rear: a backward glance.
2. retarded in physical, material, or intellectual development: backward countries; a backward child.
3.
a. of or relating to the past; conservative or reactionary
b. (in combination): backward-looking.
4. reluctant or bashful: a backward lover.
5. (Chess & Draughts) chess (of a pawn) behind neighbouring pawns and unable to be supported by them
adv
a variant of backwards
ˈbackwardly adv
ˈbackwardness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
back•ward
(ˈbæk wərd)adv. Also, back′wards.
1. toward the back or rear.
2. with the back foremost.
3. in the reverse of the usual or right way: counting backward from 100.
4. toward the past.
5. toward a less advanced state; retrogressively.
adj. 6. directed toward the back or past.
7. reversed; returning: a backward movement.
8. behind in time, progress, or development: a backward learner.
9. bashful or hesitant; shy: a backward suitor.
Idioms: 1. backward(s) and forward(s), in every detail; thoroughly.
2. bend, lean, or fall over backward, to exert oneself to the utmost; make a serious effort.
[1250–1300]
back′ward•ly, adv.
back′ward•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Adj. | 1. |  backward - directed or facing toward the back or rear; "a backward view"regressive - opposing progress; returning to a former less advanced state retrospective - concerned with or related to the past; "retrospective self-justification" forward - at or near or directed toward the front; "the forward section of the aircraft"; "a forward plunge down the stairs"; "forward motion" |
| 2. |  backward - (used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature; "a backward lover"timid - showing fear and lack of confidence forward - used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty; "a forward child badly in need of discipline" | |
| 3. | backward - retarded in intellectual development archaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expression | |
| 4. | backward - having made less than normal progress; "an economically backward country" | |
| Adv. | 1. |  backward - at or to or toward the back or rear; "he moved back"; "tripped when he stepped backward"; "she looked rearward out the window of the car" |
| 2. |  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" | |
| 3. |  backward - in or to or toward a past time; "set the clocks back an hour"; "never look back"; "lovers of the past looking fondly backward" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
backward
adjective
1. reverse, inverted, inverse, back to front, rearward, BWD (S.M.S.) He did a backward flip.
reverse forward, frontward
reverse forward, frontward
2. regressive, negative, downward, for the worse, degenerative, retrograde, retrogressive a backward step into unskilled work
3. underdeveloped, primitive, undeveloped, unsophisticated We need to accelerate the pace of change in our backward country.
4. slow, behind, stupid, retarded, deficient, underdeveloped, subnormal, half-witted, behindhand, slow-witted I was slow to walk and my parents thought I was backward.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
backward
adjective1. Directed or facing toward the back or rear:
2. Not forward but reticent or reserved in manner:
3. Exhibiting lack of education or knowledge:
4. Having only a limited ability to learn and understand:
Informal: soft.
5. Not progressing and developing as fast as others, as in economic and social aspects:
6. Economically and socially below standard:
7. Clinging to obsolete ideas:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
backward
[ˈbækwəd]A. ADJ
2. [pupil, country] → atrasado
B. ADV
1. [look] → atrás, hacia atrás; [move] → hacia atrás
to walk/fall backward → andar/caer hacia atrás
to go backward and forward → ir y venir, ir de acá para allá
this is a step backward (fig) → esto supone un paso atrás
see also bend over
to walk/fall backward → andar/caer hacia atrás
to go backward and forward → ir y venir, ir de acá para allá
this is a step backward (fig) → esto supone un paso atrás
see also bend over
2. (= in reverse) → al revés
to read sth backward → leer algo para atrás
to know sth backward → saberse algo al dedillo or de pe a pa
to read sth backward → leer algo para atrás
to know sth backward → saberse algo al dedillo or de pe a pa
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
backward
(ˈbӕkwəd) adjective1. aimed or directed backwards. He left without a backward glance.hacia atrás
2. less advanced in mind or body than is normal for one's age. a backward child.retrasado
3. late in developing a modern culture, mechanization etc. That part of Britain is still very backward; the backward peoples of the world.atrasado
ˈbackwardness nounˈbackwards adverb1. towards the back. He glanced backwards.hacia atrás
2. with one's back facing the direction one is going in. The child walked backwards into a lamp-post. de espaldas a
3. in the opposite way to that which is usual. Can you count from 1 to 10 backwards? (= starting at 10 and counting to 1).al revés
backwards and forwards in one direction and then in the opposite direction. The dog ran backwards and forwards across the grass. de un lado para otro
bend/fall over backwards to try very hard. He bent over backwards to get us tickets for the concert.hacer lo imposible, desvivirse
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
backward
a. atrasado-a, tardío-a, lento-a, retraído-a;
adv. atrás, hacia atrás, al revés; [direction] en sentido contrario.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
backward
adv hacia atrásEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.