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Backward Very Common

Backward has 10 different meanings across 2 categories:

Adjective · Adverb

Definitions
Noun
1

The state behind or past.

"The backward glance he gave showed how far he had traveled from his starting point."

Adjective
1

directed or facing toward the back or rear

"a backward view"

2

(used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature

"a backward lover"

3

retarded in intellectual development

"After years of neglect, the child remained backward intellectually despite entering school at the normal age."

4

having made less than normal progress

"an economically backward country"

5

Situated toward or at the rear of something.

"The new wing is located in the backward corner of the building, away from the main entrance."

In plain English: Backward means facing away from something, moving toward where you started, or being behind others in progress.

"The old house had no electricity because its wiring was too backward for modern life."

Usage: Use backward to describe movement in reverse direction rather than simply located at a rear position. Avoid confusing it with "backwards" when emphasizing the action of moving away from forward progress.

Adverb
1

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

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

in or to or toward a past time

"set the clocks back an hour"

"never look back"

"lovers of the past looking fondly backward"

4

At, near or towards the rear of something.

"Please sit in the backward row to get a better view of the stage."

In plain English: Backward means moving away from where you are going instead of forward.

"She is not good at reading backward letters when she does word problems in math class."

Example Sentences
"The old house had no electricity because its wiring was too backward for modern life." adj
"The old house looked backward in style compared to all the modern buildings nearby." adj
"His thinking remained backward when he refused to accept any new technology for his farm." adj
"Don't talk backward during the meeting or you will miss important information from the front." adj
"She is not good at reading backward letters when she does word problems in math class." adv
See Also
Related Terms
Antonyms

Origin

The word backward comes from Middle English and originally meant "in the direction of the rear." It was formed by combining back as an adverb with the suffix -ward, indicating movement toward something.

Rhyming Words
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