Laxi Dictionary

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Definition backwards in British English

backwards adjective, adverb

adjective, adverb
/ˈbækwə(r)dz/

Backwards can be used in the following ways:

as an adverb: I stepped backwards.

more rarely as an adjective: a backwards step

1

if you move or look backwards, you move or look in the direction that is behind you

Example

He was thrown backwards by the force of the explosion.

Example

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

Synonyms and related words
away backward outwards
2

in the opposite way or order from usual

Example

Count backwards from ten to one.

Example

Let's work backwards through all the steps to see where we went wrong.

Synonyms and related words
away backward outwards
2.1

with the back part at the front

Example

Your skirt is on backwards.

Synonyms and related words
upside down back to front inside out
3

towards a time in the past

Example

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

Synonyms and related words
past ago previously
3.1

not progressing but changing back to a previous worse state

Example

With these new weaker pollution controls, the government seems to be moving backwards.

Synonyms and related words
worse inferior impoverished
Definition backwards in British English