English Explanatory Dictionary

backward

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Indicating position or direction.
  2. Situated toward or at the rear of something.
  3. Acting or moving in the direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing.
  4. Acting or moving in the direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
  5. Acting or moving oppositely to the desired direction of progress.
  6. Reversed in order or sequence.
  7. Expressing lack of development or advancement.
  8. Retarded in development; not as advanced as would be expected.
  9. Of a culture, country, practice etc., undeveloped or unsophisticated.
  10. Slow to apprehend; having difficulties in learning.
  11. Lacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.
  12. Late or behindhand.
adv
  1. At, near or towards the rear of something.
  2. In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.
  3. In a direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
  4. Oppositely to the desired direction of progress, or from a better to a worse state.
  5. In a reversed orientation; back to front.
  6. In a reversed order or sequence.
  7. Toward or into the past.
  8. In the past.
  9. By way of reflection; reflexively.
noun
  1. The state behind or past.
verb
  1. To keep back, to delay, to retard.

Pronunciation

/ˈbæk.wə(ɹ)d/ băk'wərd /ˈbækwɚd/ en-au-backward.ogg

Word forms

backward more backward most backward backwards backwarding backwarded

Etymology

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

Synonyms

reversedly in reverse dated obsolete primitive back to front hindwards rearward retrograde contrariwise mirror image switched crude antediluvian antiquated backwards parachronistic anachronistic antediluvial antique archaic backward behind the times cobwebbed cobwebby defunct desuete discontinued disused dootsie elderly extinct expired fossilized Havishamesque hoary idle Miss Havishamesque mouldy old oldfangled old-fashioned old school outdated outmoded out of date out of fashion outworn passé superannuated superseded unemployed unoccupied venerable workless overdue tardy behindhand belated late

Antonyms

progressive forward forwards

Related words

backwards

Derived words

ass backward ass-backward backwardation backward compatibility backward compatible backward-compatible backward compliment backward design backward dive backward in coming forward backward incompatibility backward incompatible backward induction backward integration backwardism backward linkage backward-looking backward-lookingness backwardly backward masking backwardness backward pass backward pawn backward rationalization backward rationalize backward slash bend over backward camback fast backward forward-backward algorithm other backward class unbackward work backward

Translations

Bulgarian: назад Bulgarian: обратно Dutch: achteruit Dutch: naar achteren Esperanto: malantaŭen Finnish: takaperoinen Finnish: taaksepäin suuntautuva Finnish: taakse Finnish: peruuttava French: en arrière German: zurück German: nach hinten German: rückwärts Gothic: 𐌹𐌱𐌿𐌺𐍃 Hungarian: vissza Hungarian: hátra Icelandic: aftur Icelandic: aftur á bak Irish: siar Irish: ar gcúl Italian: indietro Italian: retromarcia Jamaican Creole: back Jamaican Creole: backway Māori: whakamuri Polish: w tył Polish: do tyłu Portuguese: de volta Portuguese: atrás Romanian: înapoi Romanian: spre-napoi Romanian: către spate Romanian: regresiv Romanian: îndărăt Russian: наза́д Russian: обра́тно Turkish: geri Catalan: retrògrad Chinese Mandarin: 逆向 Czech: vzad Greek: ανάποδος Spanish: retrógrado Swedish: bakåt Swedish: baklänges Bashkir: артҡа Bulgarian: назад Catalan: enrere Cherokee: ᎠᏏᏂ Chinese Mandarin: 向後 /向后 Chinese Mandarin: 往後 /往后 Chinese Mandarin: 朝後 /朝后 Czech: zpátky Czech: dozadu Czech: vzad Farefare: abilimpoore Finnish: taaksepäin Finnish: takaperin French: en arrière French: à reculons Galician: para atrás Galician: de costas German: rückwärts German: zurück Greek: πίσω Hungarian: hátra Hungarian: hátrafelé Icelandic: aftur á bak Ingrian: takaperin Irish: ar gcúl Japanese: 後ろへ Japanese: 後方へ Latin: rūrsum Latin: retrōrsum Malayalam: പുറകോട്ട് Mongolian: ᠬᠣᠶᠢᠰᠢ Mongolian: ᠬᠣᠶᠢᠰᠢ ᠪᠠᠨ Mongolian: ᠠᠷᠤᠨᠰᠢ Mongolian: ᠠᠷᠤᠨᠰᠢ ᠪᠠᠨ Mongolian: хойш Mongolian: хойшоо Mongolian: аранш Mongolian: араншаа Occitan: en rèire Old Church Slavonic: възнакъ Polish: do tyłu Polish: z powrotem Portuguese: para trás Spanish: atrás Spanish: hacia atrás Tagalog: patalikod Tuvan: дедир Ukrainian: наза́д Vietnamese: ngược lại
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