backward
gb/bˈækwɚd/ us/bˈækwɚd/
A2
English
~ 1400
hátrafelé, hátra, hátrafelé néző, hátrafelé irányuló, elmaradott, korszerűtlen, maradi, visszafelé, fordított sorrendben
A2
1
Usage pattern:
to move [something/someone] backward
She took a step backward to avoid the puddle.
Hátralépett egyet, hogy kikerülje a tócsát.
The car rolled backward down the hill.
Az autó hátrafelé gurult le a lejtőn.
He leaned backward in his chair and stretched.
Learner examples
He moved backward to see the picture.
Hátrébb lépett, hogy lássa a képet.
The chair fell backward.
A szék hátrafelé dőlt el.
I walked backward to the door.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'backward' with 'backwards'. Both are correct in American English, but British English prefers 'backwards' for movement.
Meaning
Toward the back
Collocations
step backward
|look backward
|move backward
|fall backward
Synonyms
rearward (More formal and less common, often used in military or technical contexts.)
Antonyms
forward (Indicates movement toward the front, opposite of backward.)
Themes
daily life
|movement
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Moving or facing toward the back, not forward.
In the direction that is behind you or behind something else.
B1
2
Usage pattern:
a backward [position/look/facing]
The child sat in a backward seat for safety.
A gyerek biztonsági okokból hátrafelé néző gyerekülésben ült.
He gave her a quick backward glance.
Gyors hátrapillantást vetett rá.
The camera was mounted in a backward position.
Learner examples
The seat is backward.
Az ülés hátrafelé néz.
She looked with a backward glance.
Hátrapillantott.
The car has a backward camera.
Common mistake:
Sometimes confused with 'upside down' or 'reversed', which describe different orientations.
Meaning
Facing the back
Collocations
backward glance
|backward seat
|backward tilt
Synonyms
rear-facing (Technical description, often for seats or equipment.)
Antonyms
forward-facing (Indicates orientation toward the front.)
Themes
daily life
|movement
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Pointing or facing toward the back.
Directed toward the rear instead of the front.
B2
3
Usage pattern:
a backward [country/area/system]
The region remains economically backward despite recent investments.
A térség a közelmúltbeli beruházások ellenére továbbra is gazdaságilag elmaradott.
They called the policy socially backward.
A politikát társadalmilag maradinak nevezték.
Some rural areas are still technologically backward.
Learner examples
This is a backward town.
Ez egy elmaradott város.
The machine is backward and slow.
A gép korszerűtlen és lassú.
The school is backward in teaching.
Common mistake:
May be mistakenly used for 'shy' when describing people; use 'reserved' or 'introverted' instead.
Meaning
Less developed or advanced
Collocations
backward region
|backward technology
|socially backward
Synonyms
underdeveloped (Common term for countries or regions lacking economic and industrial development.)
Antonyms
advanced (Indicates a high level of development or progress.)
Themes
society
|technology
|core_vocabulary
|education
Definition
Not as modern or developed as other people or places.
Less advanced in progress, knowledge, technology, or social development compared to others.
A2
4
Usage pattern:
to count [numbers] backward
She counted backward from ten to zero.
Tíztől nulláig visszafelé számolt.
The movie plays the scene backward for effect.
A filmben a hatás kedvéért visszafelé játsszák le a jelenetet.
He spelled his name backward as a joke.
Learner examples
I count backward from ten.
Tíztől számolok visszafelé.
We read the list backward.
Fordított sorrendben olvastuk a listát.
He said the word backward.
Meaning
In reverse order
Collocations
count backward
|spell backward
|read backward
Synonyms
in reverse (Common phrase meaning in the opposite order.)
Antonyms
forward (In normal order from start to finish.)
Themes
education
|time
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Starting at the end and going to the beginning.
In reverse order, from end to beginning.
Grammar
Dictionary form
backward
IPA
GB/bˈækwɚd/
US/bˈækwɚd/
Syllables & stress
back - ward (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (back)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: backward
Word family
Expressions
bend over backward
1/bˈɛnd ˈoʊvɚ bˈækwɚd/
idiom
informal
Make a big effort to help
To try very hard to help someone or make them happy.
Examples
- The staff bent over backward to make our stay enjoyable.
- She bent over backward to meet the deadline.
play something backward
1/plˈeɪ sˈʌmθɪŋ bˈækwɚd/
fixed phrase
Play recording in reverse
To make a song, video, or movie go from end to start instead of start to end.
Examples
- They played the video backward to show the trick.
- He played the song backward to find hidden words.
take a step backward
1/tˈeɪk ə stˈɛp bˈækwɚd/
fixed phrase
Move one step back
To move your body one step toward the back.
Examples
- She took a step backward to avoid the dog.
- He took a step backward in surprise.