backward

1 of 3

adverb

back·​ward ˈbak-wərd 

variants or backwards

ˈbak-wərdz 

1

a

: toward the back or rear

She glanced backward over her shoulder.

b

: with the back foremost

Take three steps backward.

2

a

: in a reverse or contrary direction or way

Count backward from 10.

b

: toward the past

a journey backward in time

c

: toward a worse state

His new job felt like a step backward.

see also:

bend over backward

backward

2 of 3

adjective

1

a

: directed or turned toward the back

a backward glance

b

: done or executed backward

a backward somersault

2

: diffident, shy

I have been backward to begin my canvass.

—Edmund Burke

3

: less advanced in development or accomplishment than what is typical or expected

… said he felt the news media had given Jasper the image of a backward country town.

—Eli Rosenberg and Lindsey Bever

backwardly adverb

backwardness noun

backward

3 of 3

noun

: the part behind or past

… the dark backward … of time …

—Shakespeare

Synonyms of backward

Adverb

• back
• rearward

Adjective

• reverse
• reversed
• hind
• retrograde
• rearward

Examples of backward in a Sentence

Adverb

a sudden movement backward, not forward

I heard a noise behind me and glanced backward.

He pushed the throttle backward.

She took a small step backward.

a journey backward in time

The narrative moves backward and forward in time.

Adjective

a technologically backward village that has no running water

a backward turn on ice skates is hard to learn because you can't see where you're going

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

The massive horse – the biggest in the race – reared up as he was being led to the starting gate and flipped over backward, tossing his jockey Alex Achard to the ground. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 2 May 2026

Per the authors, when dolphins flap their tails up and down, the kicking motion pushes water backward and produces swirling currents of varying sizes. —ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026

Adjective

The order of operations felt as backward as the series of events that preceded it. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 May 2026

That’s one of a number of cases in the paper where the researchers tried to reason backward about what the model was doing based on its output. —ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1610, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing backward

• backward compatible
• backward-looking
• bend over backward
• fall over backward
• know something backward and forward
• lean over backward
• step backward/forward

Kids Definition

backward

1 of 2 adverb

back·​ward ˈbak-wərd 

variants or backwards

-wərdz 

1

: toward the back

look backward

2

: with the back first

ride backward

3

: opposite to the usual way : in reverse

count backward

4

: toward a worse state

backward

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: directed or turned toward the back

a backward glance

b

: done backward

2

: shy entry 1 sense 1, bashful

3

: slow in learning or development

backward nations

backwardly adverb

backwardness noun