HOW TO PRONOUNCE
backward
/ˈbækwɚd/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:55
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What does backward mean?
adjective
- Situated toward or at the rear of something.
- Acting or moving in the direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing.
- Acting or moving in the direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
More meanings (24)
adjective
- (figuratively) Acting or moving oppositely to the desired direction of progress.
- Reversed in order or sequence.
- (figuratively) Retarded in development; not as advanced as would be expected.
- (figuratively) Of a culture, country, practice etc., undeveloped or unsophisticated.
- (figuratively) Slow to apprehend; having difficulties in learning.
- (figuratively) Lacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.
- (figuratively) Late or behindhand.
- Reluctant or unwilling to advance or act; shy.
- 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.
- (obsolete) Unwilling; averse; reluctant.
- (obsolete) Already past or gone; bygone.
adverb
- At, near or towards the rear of something.
- In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.
- In a direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
- (figuratively) Oppositely to the desired direction of progress, or from a better to a worse state.
- In a reversed orientation; back to front.
- In a reversed order or sequence.
- Toward or into the past.
- By way of reflection; reflexively.
- (obsolete) In the past.
noun
- The state behind or past.
verb
- (dated) To keep back, to delay, to retard.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈbækwɚd/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
He, too, had caught a fleeting backward glimpse of cruel yellow eyes and half open mouth within startling proximity of his person.
The fiery steed, impatient of the wound, Curvets, and, springing upward with a bound, His helpless lord cast backward on the ground.
More book examples (3)
My speaking of the husband, by-the-bye, reminds me that he was extremely backward about the great work of recovering his youthful bride.
I have noted but two days' difference in the coming of the song-sparrow between a very early and a very backward spring.
His hands became numb with cold, his grasp relaxed, and he fell backward down into the water, but was brought out alive.