backwards
gb/bˈækwɚdz/ us/bˈækwɚdz/
A2
English
~ 6700
Senses
0 senses
adverb
A2
property
1
in the opposite direction to forward
In a way that goes to the back, not to the front.
Usage pattern:
to [move-verb] backwards
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "back" and "backwards". Both are often possible with movement ("walk back" / "walk backwards"), but "backwards" makes the opposite-to-forward direction very clear. Another common mistake is using the adjective form "backward" for movement; use the adverb "backwards" after verbs like "walk", "run", and "fall".
Synonyms
back (Often used instead of "backwards" with movement; sometimes sounds slightly less explicit about direction.)
|
in reverse (Common with vehicles and machines; can sound a bit more technical.)
Antonyms
forwards (Describes movement toward the front, the opposite of moving backwards.)
Collocations
walk backwards
|run backwards
|fall backwards
|move backwards
|lean backwards
|step backwards
Themes
movement
|daily life
|space
|transportation
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She stumbled and fell backwards onto the sofa.
- The car rolled backwards down the hill.
- He took a few steps backwards when the dog barked.
- Please move backwards so everyone can see the stage.
- The chair tipped backwards, but he caught it in time.
Learner examples
- The baby can crawl backwards but not forwards.
- He walked backwards to see his friends for longer.
- The bus started to roll backwards.
- She pulled her chair backwards from the table.
- The man fell backwards off the small wall.
adverb
B1
relation
2
in reverse or opposite order
Starting from the end and going to the beginning, not in the normal order.
Usage pattern:
to [verb] [something] backwards
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "in the backwards" or "from backwards" when they mean "backwards" or "in reverse order". Use "backwards" directly after the verb: "count backwards", "read it backwards".
Synonyms
in reverse order (More explicit and a little more formal; often used in instructions or explanations.)
Antonyms
in order (Means following the normal, expected order, the opposite of doing something backwards.)
Collocations
count backwards
|read backwards
|spell backwards
|play a song backwards
|run backwards (about time/order)
|number backwards
Themes
time
|numbers
|language
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The teacher asked the children to count backwards from ten.
- If you read the word backwards, it spells something different.
- The movie seems strange because the story is told backwards.
- He can say the alphabet backwards very quickly.
- The dates on the list are arranged backwards, from newest to oldest.
Learner examples
- Please count backwards from twenty to zero.
- She wrote the numbers backwards by mistake.
- He read the message backwards as a game.
- The story goes backwards from the end to the start.
- I can say the alphabet backwards slowly.
adverb
B2
property
3
from the end back to the start
Starting with the result and then going back step by step to find how it began.
Usage pattern:
to work backwards from [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may say "work in backwards" or "work from backwards". The common pattern is "work backwards" or "work backwards from [result]" without a preposition before "backwards".
Synonyms
in reverse (Can also describe this way of solving or planning, but is more general and also used for movement and order.)
Antonyms
forwards (In planning or reasoning, working forwards means starting at the beginning and going step by step to the result.)
Collocations
work backwards
|work backwards from
|think backwards
|plan backwards
|reason backwards
Themes
problem solving
|thinking
|education
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The police worked backwards from the time of the accident to find out what happened.
- In this kind of puzzle, it helps to work backwards from the answer.
- We should work backwards from the deadline to see when each task must start.
- If you work backwards from the final price, you can calculate the tax.
- The engineers are working backwards to discover why the system failed.
Learner examples
- In this math problem, try to work backwards.
- We worked backwards from the date of the exam.
- She worked backwards from the answer to find the steps.
- They planned the project backwards from the finish date.
- He thought backwards to see where he made a mistake.
adverb
A2
property
4
with the front turned to the back
Worn or put so that the front part is at the back.
Usage pattern:
to put [something] on backwards
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "on the backwards" or "in backwards" for clothing. The normal phrase is "on backwards": "Your shirt is on backwards."
Synonyms
the wrong way round (Common in British English; can also refer to left-right or inside-out mistakes, not only front-back.)
Antonyms
the right way round (Means correctly oriented, with the front at the front.)
Collocations
on backwards
|wear backwards
|put [clothes] on backwards
|backwards hat
|shirt on backwards
|cap on backwards
Themes
clothing
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Your T-shirt is on backwards; the label is at the front.
- He likes to wear his baseball cap backwards.
- She accidentally put the dress on backwards and had to change.
- The chair was placed backwards, facing the wall instead of the table.
- If you put the battery in backwards, it won’t work.
Learner examples
- My shirt is on backwards.
- He wears his cap backwards.
- I put my jacket on backwards by mistake.
- The chair is backwards and faces the wall.
- The battery is in backwards, so the toy does not work.
adverb
B2
property
5
towards a worse past state
In a way that makes things less modern or less good than before.
Usage pattern:
to go backwards in [area]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse literal movement with this figurative use. When talking about progress, "backwards" does not mean physically moving; it means becoming less advanced or less fair.
Synonyms
regressively (More formal and mainly used about policies or social change.)
Antonyms
forwards (In this context, suggests positive progress or development instead of going backwards.)
|
progressively (Describes change that moves society or a system forward rather than backward.)
Collocations
a step backwards
|move backwards
|go backwards
|take us backwards
|push society backwards
|slip backwards
Themes
society
|politics
|change
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Many people feel that the new law is a step backwards for human rights.
- If we cut education spending, we will go backwards as a country.
- The company went backwards after the merger and lost market share.
- These changes could push the healthcare system backwards.
- Without investment, the project will slowly move backwards instead of improving.
Learner examples
- This rule is a step backwards for workers.
- If we stop training staff, the team will go backwards.
- The country went backwards during the crisis.
- Cutting science money takes us backwards, not forwards.
- He thinks the policy moves the city backwards.
adjective
C1
property
6
less developed or modern
Not modern or developed like other places or ideas; slow to change.
Usage pattern:
a backwards [place/area/system]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "backwards" in this sense without realizing it can sound rude or judgmental, especially about countries or cultures. A more neutral choice is often "less developed" or "not very modern".
Synonyms
underdeveloped (Often used about economies or countries; slightly more formal and technical.)
|
behind (Informal and less strong; suggests slower progress without always sounding as insulting.)
Antonyms
advanced (Describes places or systems that are highly developed or modern.)
|
progressive (Often used for social ideas or policies that move forward rather than staying backwards.)
Collocations
backwards country
|backwards region
|backwards economy
|backwards education system
|socially backwards
|technologically backwards
Themes
society
|economy
|culture
|core_vocabulary
|politics
|business
Examples
- They described the tax system as old-fashioned and economically backwards.
- Some rural areas are still very backwards in terms of internet access.
- The report calls the education system backwards and in need of reform.
- He has quite backwards views on gender roles.
- Critics say the policy is socially backwards and ignores minority rights.
Learner examples
- The village is poor and very backwards.
- Her parents have backwards ideas about women and work.
- The school system here is backwards and needs change.
- Many people think the law is backwards.
- The region is backwards in technology.
adjective
informal
C1
property
7
offensively: slow to learn or think
A rude word for someone who learns or thinks much more slowly than other people.
Usage pattern:
a backwards [person/child]
Common mistake:
Learners may use "backwards" to describe a person who is slow at school, not realizing that it sounds very rude or insulting. It is better to say "He needs more help" or "She learns slowly" instead.
Synonyms
slow (Can be used more gently about learning speed; "backwards" is stronger and more insulting.)
Antonyms
bright (Informal and positive, used for someone who learns or thinks quickly.)
|
quick (Often used in phrases like "quick learner" to describe fast understanding.)
Collocations
a bit backwards
|seems backwards
|mentally backwards
|socially backwards
|call someone backwards
Themes
people
|insults
|health
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The teacher was fired after calling some of the students backwards.
- Describing children as backwards is now seen as offensive and outdated.
- He grew up being told he was backwards because he struggled at school.
- The article criticizes the film for its portrayal of disabled people as backwards.
- Using the word "backwards" about a person can be very hurtful.
Learner examples
- Calling a child backwards is rude.
- Many people think this word for a person is very offensive.
- Do not call someone backwards if they learn slowly.
- The teacher said a student was backwards, and parents were angry.
- Today, we avoid the word backwards for people.
Grammar
Dictionary form
backwards
IPA
GB/bˈækwɚdz/
US/bˈækwɚdz/
Syllables & stress
back - wards (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (back)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: backwards
Word family
Expressions
backwards and forwards
1/bˈækwɚdz ˈænd fˈɔɹwɚdz/
fixed phrase
repeatedly in both directions
Moving or going in one direction and then in the opposite direction, again and again.
Examples
- The kids were running backwards and forwards across the playground.
- He paced backwards and forwards while he waited for the call.
- The train rocked backwards and forwards as it went over the old tracks.
backwards compatible
1/bˈækwɚdz kəmpˈætəbəl/
fixed phrase
technical
new system works with older ones
Used about software or machines that can still use files or parts from older versions.
Examples
- The new software is backwards compatible with last year's files.
- This game console is not backwards compatible, so it can't play old games.
- They designed the system to be backwards compatible to avoid extra costs.
work backwards
1/wˈɚk bˈækwɚdz/
fixed phrase
start from result and go back
To begin with the final answer or goal and then find the steps that lead to it.
Examples
- To find the mistake in your calculation, try to work backwards.
- We worked backwards from the launch date to create the project schedule.
- Detectives often work backwards from the crime scene to build a timeline.
bend over backwards
1/bˈɛnd ˈoʊvɚ bˈækwɚdz/
idiom
Make great effort to help
To try very hard to help someone or do something difficult.
Examples
- The staff bent over backwards to make us feel welcome.
- The staff bent over backwards to make sure we enjoyed our stay.
- She bent over backwards to meet the deadline.
- She bends over backwards for her friends, even when she is busy.
- The company is bending over backwards to keep its best employees.