backward

1 of 3

adverb

back·​ward ˈbak-wərd 

variants or backwards

ˈbak-wərdz 

1

a

: toward the back or rear

She glanced backward over her shoulder.

b

: with the back foremost

Take three steps backward.

2

a

: in a reverse or contrary direction or way

Count backward from 10.

b

: toward the past

a journey backward in time

c

: toward a worse state

His new job felt like a step backward.

see also bend over backward

backward

2 of 3

adjective

1

a

: directed or turned toward the back

a backward glance

b

: done or executed backward

a backward somersault

2

: diffident, shy

I have been backward to begin my canvass.

—Edmund Burke

3

: less advanced in development or accomplishment than what is typical or expected

… said he felt the news media had given Jasper the image of a backward country town.

—Eli Rosenberg and Lindsey Bever

backwardly adverb

backwardness noun

backward

3 of 3

noun

: the part behind or past

… the dark backward … of time …

—Shakespeare

Synonyms of backward

Adverb

• back
• rearward

Adjective

• reverse
• reversed
• hind
• retrograde
• rearward

Examples of backward in a Sentence

Adverb

a sudden movement backward, not forward

I heard a noise behind me and glanced backward.

He pushed the throttle backward.

She took a small step backward.

a journey backward in time

The narrative moves backward and forward in time.

Adjective

a technologically backward village that has no running water

a backward turn on ice skates is hard to learn because you can't see where you're going

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

During an event titled Autonomy Visualized at a Tesla location in Miami over the weekend, one of the humanoid robots handing out water bottles fell backward after making upward motions toward its head with both hands, according to a video posted to Reddit. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025

Art market looks to the past Stung by losses on contemporary art, collectors are increasingly looking backward for quality and value, as demonstrated by the sale of a 15th-century triptych by an unidentified Flemish artist for nearly $8 million last week. —semafor.com, 8 Dec. 2025

Adjective

Don’t outsmart yourself, which McDaniel occasionally does, including that late first-half pass that Tagovailoa almost turned into a devastating backward pass. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Dec. 2025

Nancy using an overhead projector to mark up a map of Hawkins, noting all the territory Hopper has re-patrolled in search of Vecna, becomes a tidy little metaphor for all the backward gazing. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025

Noun

As the officers mill around, one officer wearing his hat backward grabs a skateboard. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2025

In the weeks ahead, when the pundits are debating how to interpret the latest holiday spending numbers, keep in mind that one half-step backward may be the key to sticking a soft landing. —Sanjay Datta, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1610, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing backward

• backward compatible
• backward-looking
• fall over backward
• know something backward and forward
• step backward/forward

Kids Definition

backward

1 of 2 adverb

back·​ward ˈbak-wərd 

variants or backwards

-wərdz 

1

: toward the back

look backward

2

: with the back first

ride backward

3

: opposite to the usual way : in reverse

count backward

4

: toward a worse state

backward

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: directed or turned toward the back

a backward glance

b

: done backward

2

: shy entry 1 sense 1, bashful

3

: slow in learning or development

backward nations

backwardly adverb

backwardness noun