Backward
/ˈbæk.wɚd/
Definitions
2 meaningsTowards the back; in a reversed direction.
/ˈbæk.wɚd/
In the opposite direction to the one considered to be forward.
The car went backward.
💡 Simply: Going the opposite way.
More Examples
Please step backward.
How It's Used
"He walked backward into the room."
"The car slowly backed backward into the parking spot."
Slow in development or progress; behind.
/ˈbæk.wɚd/
Having made little or no progress.
His development is backward for his age.
💡 Simply: Not developing well.
More Examples
The technology used is rather backward.
How It's Used
"He's backward in his reading ability."
"The country's economic development is backward compared to its neighbors."
Idioms & expressions
backward and forward
To and fro; repeatedly.
"He walked backward and forward nervously."
From Old English *bæcweard, from *bæc "back" + *weard "toward".
The word has consistently been used to describe both physical direction and lack of progress since Old English times.
Memory tip
Think of going 'back' and 'ward' (toward).