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backward

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back•ward adv. Also, ˈback•wards.

toward the back or rear:I leaned backward in my chair.
with the back moving first or facing forward:The helicopter flew backward.
in the reverse of the usual or right way: counting backward from 100.
toward the past: Looking backward, I remember how I felt.

adj.

[before a noun] directed toward the back or past:a backward look.
[before a noun] reversed;
returning:a backward movement.
behind in time, progress, or development:send help to backward countries.
bashful or hesitant;
shy:a little backward giving his opinions.

Idioms

backward(s) and forward(s), in every detail;
thoroughly.

Idioms bend, lean, or fall over backward, [no obj]to make a serious effort:He bent over backward to be polite.

back•ward•ly, adv.
back•ward•ness, n. [uncountable]

back•ward adv. Also, back′wards.

toward the back or rear.
with the back foremost.
in the reverse of the usual or right way:counting backward from 100.
toward the past:to look backward over one's earlier mistakes.
toward a less advanced state;
retrogressively:Since the overthrow of the president the country has moved steadily backward.
Idioms backward and forward, thoroughly:He knew his lesson backward and forward.Also, backwards and forwards.

adj.

directed toward the back or past.
reversed;
returning:a backward movement; a backward journey.
behind in time or progress;
late;
slow:a backward learner; a backward country.
bashful or hesitant;
shy:a backward lover.

Middle English bakwarde. See back¹, -ward 1250–1300

back′ward•ly, adv.
back′ward•ness, n.

10.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

backward /ˈbækwəd/ adj

(usually prenominal) directed towards the rear: a backward glance
sometimes offensive slow in physical or material development
old-fashioned offensive having difficulty learning
- of or relating to the past; conservative or reactionary
- (in combination): backward-looking
reluctant or bashful: a backward lover

adv

a variant of backwards

ˈbackwardness n

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

backwards /ˈbækwədz/, backward adv

towards the rear
with the back foremost
in the reverse of usual order or direction
to or towards the past
into a worse state
towards the point of origin
bend over backwards, lean over backwards, fall over backwards ⇒ informal to make a special effort, esp in order to please

'backward' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

axel - backspin - backstroke - backwards - backwash - backwater - barbarism - behindhand - bharal - black nightshade - Bullamakanka - chamois - Colles' fracture - duiker - flip-flop - gainer - half gainer - hammerhead - ibex - kyphosis - mirror writing - rake - recoil - regress - reverse - roller - rub - sable antelope - salchow - screw - serow - somersault - stick - -ward - Woop Woop - amphisbaena - analysis - anisodactylous - arsy-varsy - astern - back - back-and-forth - backbend - backcast - back dive - backend-to - backflip - backhanded - backlash - backlins

In Lists: animals, more...

Synonyms: backwards, rearward, retrograde, back, rear, more...

Collocations: put his [shirt, hat] on backward, bent over backward to [help, please, accommodate, impress], she's not backward in coming forward, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "backward" in the title:

“Eroom’s Law,” Moore’s Law backward
"/" and "\" [slash, stroke: forward, backward]
a backward blessing?
A "contrary/contradictory/backward" person?
a letter is backward
a man who ages backward
A quick brace and then a longer backward trace.
a trip backward in time
and it was not long until he could have repeated it a word at a time backward
angling backward
approach the bar backward
at others bending backward, and uniting again with that from which it proceeded
back / backward
back up/move backward/drive backward
Backward
Backward
Backward (referring to fruit)
backward and forward
Backward of his mother’s name
backward sweep of memory
backward <through> the log
backward whispers of ancient Greek
backward-facing thumb
backward-looking gaze
backward-sliding pencil
Backward/Backwards Forward/Forwards
boosted ourselves out backward
Can we call backward students " bottom students"?
causes can seem to propagate backward in time, occurring after their effects.
drawn backward instead of being written forward
more...

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