backward
gb/bˈækwɚd/ us/bˈækwɚd/
A2
English
~ 1400
Senses
0 senses
adverb
A2
relation
1
Toward the back
Moving or facing toward the back, not forward.
Usage pattern:
to move [something/someone] backward
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'backward' with 'backwards'. Both are correct in American English, but British English prefers 'backwards' for movement.
Synonyms
rearward (More formal and less common, often used in military or technical contexts.)
Antonyms
forward (Indicates movement toward the front, opposite of backward.)
Collocations
step backward
|look backward
|move backward
|fall backward
Themes
daily life
|movement
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She took a step backward to avoid the puddle.
- The car rolled backward down the hill.
- He leaned backward in his chair and stretched.
Learner examples
- He moved backward to see the picture.
- The chair fell backward.
- I walked backward to the door.
adjective
B1
relation
2
Facing the back
Pointing or facing toward the back.
Usage pattern:
a backward [position/look/facing]
Common mistake:
Sometimes confused with 'upside down' or 'reversed', which describe different orientations.
Synonyms
rear-facing (Technical description, often for seats or equipment.)
Antonyms
forward-facing (Indicates orientation toward the front.)
Collocations
backward glance
|backward seat
|backward tilt
Themes
daily life
|movement
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The child sat in a backward seat for safety.
- He gave her a quick backward glance.
- The camera was mounted in a backward position.
Learner examples
- The seat is backward.
- She looked with a backward glance.
- The car has a backward camera.
adjective
B2
property
3
Less developed or advanced
Not as modern or developed as other people or places.
Usage pattern:
a backward [country/area/system]
Common mistake:
May be mistakenly used for 'shy' when describing people; use 'reserved' or 'introverted' instead.
Synonyms
underdeveloped (Common term for countries or regions lacking economic and industrial development.)
Antonyms
advanced (Indicates a high level of development or progress.)
Collocations
backward region
|backward technology
|socially backward
Themes
society
|technology
|core_vocabulary
|education
Examples
- The region remains economically backward despite recent investments.
- They called the policy socially backward.
- Some rural areas are still technologically backward.
Learner examples
- This is a backward town.
- The machine is backward and slow.
- The school is backward in teaching.
adverb
A2
relation
4
In reverse order
Starting at the end and going to the beginning.
Usage pattern:
to count [numbers] backward
Synonyms
in reverse (Common phrase meaning in the opposite order.)
Antonyms
forward (In normal order from start to finish.)
Collocations
count backward
|spell backward
|read backward
Themes
education
|time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She counted backward from ten to zero.
- The movie plays the scene backward for effect.
- He spelled his name backward as a joke.
Learner examples
- I count backward from ten.
- We read the list backward.
- He said the word backward.
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.