Meaning

16 senses
  1. Indicating position or direction.

    Situated toward or at the rear of something.

    The silt collects in the backward part of the tank.

    directed or facing toward the back or rear

  2. Acting or moving in the direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing.

    a backward tilt of the head

  3. Acting or moving in the direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.

    The occasional apparent backward movement of planets is evidence that they revolve around the sun.

    Engage the lock to prevent backward rotation of the wheel.

  4. (figuratively)Acting or moving oppositely to the desired direction of progress.

    This is a backward step for the country.

  5. Reversed in order or sequence.

    This backward writing is hard to read.

  6. Expressing lack of development or advancement.

    (figuratively)Retarded in development; not as advanced as would be expected.

    The child is backward in his school work.

    retarded in intellectual development

  7. (figuratively)Of a culture, country, practice etc., undeveloped or unsophisticated.

    They were a backward people without any writing.

    rückständig, unterentwickelt, zurückgeblieben

    отста́лыйotstályj

  8. (figuratively)Slow to apprehend; having difficulties in learning.

    a backward child

  9. (figuratively)Lacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.

    The party’s ideas and policies are very backward.

    altmodisch, rückwärtsgewandt, rückständig

  10. (figuratively)Late or behindhand.

    a backward season

  11. (often)Reluctant or unwilling to advance or act; shy.

    She certainly isn’t backward in coming forward!

    zögerlich, gehemmt

  12. Of a pawn, further behind than pawns of the same colour on adjacent files and unable to be moved forward safely.

Examples

51 sentences
  1. It's a big step backward.

    Це великий крок назад. — deniko

    ruЭто большой шаг назад. — marafon

    deDas ist ein großer Schritt zurück. — Pfirsichbaeumchen

  2. He fell backward.

    Він упав на спину. — deniko

    ruОн упал навзничь. — sharptoothed

    deEr fiel rückwärts zu Boden. — xtofu80

  3. It felt like a step backward.

  4. That was a big step backward.

  5. He bent over backward to please his wife.

    ruОн из кожи вон лез, чтобы угодить жене. — odexed

Translations

8 languages
Русский
By meaning 3
in the direction towards the back:
in the direction reverse of normal:
undeveloped:
Deutsch
By meaning 4
in the direction towards the back:
undeveloped:
of an idea: outdated:
reluctant to advance:

Origin

From Middle English bakwarde, abakward, equivalent to back (adverb) + -ward. Cognate with

From Middle English bakwarde, abakward, equivalent to back (adverb) + -ward. Cognate with Old Frisian bekward (“backward”).

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backward — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto