American Dictionary

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Definition backward in American English

backward adverb

adverb
/ˈbækwərd/
1

in the direction that is behind you

Example

He was thrown backward by the force of the explosion.

Example

I glanced backward over my shoulder to see if anyone was following me.

Example

a car rolling backward down a hill

Synonyms and related words
2

in the opposite way or order from usual

Example

Count backward from ten to one.

Example

Let's work backward through all the steps in the process so we can see where we went wrong.

Synonyms and related words
2.1

with the back part in front

Example

Your shirt is on backward.

3

toward a time in the past

Example

It's only by looking backward that we can understand how these rivalries developed.

Synonyms and related words
3.1

not progressing but changing back to a former worse state

Example

With these new, weaker pollution controls, the Administration seems to be moving backward.

Synonyms and related words
Definition backward in American English