English dictionary

backward Meaning & Definition

Q: What is the past tense of backward?

The past tense of backward is backwarded. The present participle is backwarding.

Q: What are the comparative and superlative forms of backward?

The comparative form is more backward and the superlative form is most backward.

/ˈbæk.wə(ɹ)d/

What Does Backward Mean?

As an adjective, backward means Indicating position or direction. Situated toward or at the rear of something. It is also used to mean Situated toward or at the rear of something. As an adverb, it means At, near or towards the rear of something. As a noun, it means The state behind or past.

Backward in Brief

Part of speech	adjective, adverb, noun, verb
Pronunciation	//ˈbæk.wə(ɹ)d//
Syllables	1
Synonyms	bashful, inverse and retrograde
Antonyms	forward, ahead and forrard
Comparative / superlative	more backward, most backward
Verb forms	backwards, backwarding, backwarded

Backward Definition (Adjective)

Indicating position or direction. Situated toward or at the rear of something.
The silt collects in the backward part of the tank.
Situated toward or at the rear of something.
The silt collects in the backward part of the tank.
Acting or moving in the direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing.
a backward tilt of the head
Acting or moving in the direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
The occasional apparent backward movement of planets is evidence that they revolve around the sun.
Acting or moving oppositely to the desired direction of progress.
This is a backward step for the country.
Reversed in order or sequence.
This backward writing is hard to read.
Expressing lack of development or advancement. Retarded in development; not as advanced as would be expected.
The child is backward in his school work.
Retarded in development; not as advanced as would be expected.
The child is backward in his school work.
Of a culture, country, practice etc., undeveloped or unsophisticated.
They were a backward people without any writing.
Slow to apprehend; having difficulties in learning.
a backward child
Lacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.
The party’s ideas and policies are very backward.
Late or behindhand.
a backward season
Reluctant or unwilling to advance or act; shy.
She certainly isn’t backward in coming forward!
Of a pawn, further behind than pawns of the same colour on adjacent files and unable to be moved forward safely.
On that part of the field behind the batsman's popping crease.
Further behind the batsman's popping crease than something else.
Unwilling; averse; reluctant.
Already past or gone; bygone.

Backward as an Adverb

At, near or towards the rear of something.
The passenger turned around and walked backward, towards the tail of the aircraft.
In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.
He tilted his head backward.
In a direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
In reverse gear the wheel turns backward.
Oppositely to the desired direction of progress, or from a better to a worse state.
This project seems to be going backward.
In a reversed orientation; back to front.
He had his cap on backward.
In a reversed order or sequence.
A palindrome reads the same backward as forward.
Toward or into the past.
As we begin the new millennium, it behoves us to look backward as well as forward.
In the past.
By way of reflection; reflexively. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Backward as a Noun

The state behind or past.

Backward as a Verb

To keep back, to delay, to retard.

Adjective

(of motion) In the direction towards the back.
They left without a backward glance.
(of motion) In the direction reverse of normal.
The occasional backward movement of planets is evidence they revolve around the sun.
Reluctant or unable to advance.
Of a culture: undeveloped or unsophisticated.
Outdated.

Adverb

(of motion) In the direction towards the back; backwards
to throw the arms backward
Toward, or in, past time or events; ago.
By way of reflection; reflexively.
From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin.

Antonyms of Backward

forward ahead forrard frontwards forwards frontward forrad First World developed progressive

Backward in a Sentence

The silt collects in the backward part of the tank.

a backward tilt of the head

The occasional apparent backward movement of planets is evidence that they revolve around the sun.

Engage the lock to prevent backward rotation of the wheel.

This is a backward step for the country.

This backward writing is hard to read.

The child is backward in his school work.

They were a backward people without any writing.

a backward child

The party’s ideas and policies are very backward.

a backward season

She certainly isn’t backward in coming forward!

The passenger turned around and walked backward, towards the tail of the aircraft.

He tilted his head backward.

The grandfather clock toppled backward and crashed to the ground.

Her arm was bent backward at an odd angle.

In reverse gear the wheel turns backward.

This project seems to be going backward.

He had his cap on backward.

A palindrome reads the same backward as forward.

As we begin the new millennium, it behoves us to look backward as well as forward.

They left without a backward glance.

The occasional backward movement of planets is evidence they revolve around the sun.

to throw the arms backward

Word Forms & Grammar

backward (comparative more backward, superlative most backward)

backward

backward (third-person singular simple present backwards, present participle backwarding, simple past and past participle backwarded)

Words That Rhyme With Backward

attack word back word mac word stack word

Origin of Backward

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

Backward Pronunciation

Backward is pronounced //ˈbæk.wə(ɹ)d// and has 1 syllable.

Quick Answers About Backward

Is backward an adjective or an adverb?

Backward is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as an adverb, a noun and a verb.

What is another word for backward?

Words with a similar meaning to backward include bashful, inverse and retrograde. See the full list of backward synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of backward?

Antonyms of backward include forward, ahead, forrard and frontwards.

What is the past tense of backward?

The past tense of backward is backwarded. The present participle is backwarding.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of backward?

The comparative form is more backward and the superlative form is most backward.