backward
gb/bˈækwɚd/ us/bˈækwɚd/
A2
Kiingereza
~ 1400
Maana
maana 0
adverb
A2
relation
1
Toward the back
Moving or facing toward the back, not forward.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to move [something/someone] backward
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'backward' with 'backwards'. Both are correct in American English, but British English prefers 'backwards' for movement.
Visawe
rearward (More formal and less common, often used in military or technical contexts.)
Vinyume
forward (Indicates movement toward the front, opposite of backward.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
step backward
|look backward
|move backward
|fall backward
Mada
daily life
|movement
|space
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- She took a step backward to avoid the puddle.
- The car rolled backward down the hill.
- He leaned backward in his chair and stretched.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- 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.
Muundo wa matumizi:
a backward [position/look/facing]
Kosa la kawaida:
Sometimes confused with 'upside down' or 'reversed', which describe different orientations.
Visawe
rear-facing (Technical description, often for seats or equipment.)
Vinyume
forward-facing (Indicates orientation toward the front.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
backward glance
|backward seat
|backward tilt
Mada
daily life
|movement
|space
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- The child sat in a backward seat for safety.
- He gave her a quick backward glance.
- The camera was mounted in a backward position.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- 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.
Muundo wa matumizi:
a backward [country/area/system]
Kosa la kawaida:
May be mistakenly used for 'shy' when describing people; use 'reserved' or 'introverted' instead.
Visawe
underdeveloped (Common term for countries or regions lacking economic and industrial development.)
Vinyume
advanced (Indicates a high level of development or progress.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
backward region
|backward technology
|socially backward
Mada
society
|technology
|core_vocabulary
|education
Mifano
- The region remains economically backward despite recent investments.
- They called the policy socially backward.
- Some rural areas are still technologically backward.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- 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.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to count [numbers] backward
Visawe
in reverse (Common phrase meaning in the opposite order.)
Vinyume
forward (In normal order from start to finish.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
count backward
|spell backward
|read backward
Mada
education
|time
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- She counted backward from ten to zero.
- The movie plays the scene backward for effect.
- He spelled his name backward as a joke.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- I count backward from ten.
- We read the list backward.
- He said the word backward.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
backward
IPA
GB/bˈækwɚd/
US/bˈækwɚd/
Silabi na mkazo
back - ward (silabi 2)
Stress on 1st syllable (back)
Maumbo ya neno
Adjective
- Base: backward
Familia ya neno
Semi
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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- She took a step backward to avoid the dog.
- He took a step backward in surprise.