backward

backward — adjective

1. used for something that points, faces, or moves toward the back instead of ahead

1.adjective
Definition

used for something that points, faces, or moves toward the back instead of ahead

Example

The train has backward-facing seats near the last door.

compound adjective: backward-facing seats

During practice, Mia tried a backward roll on the mat.

collocation: backward roll

Common collocations
  • backward-facing seats
  • backward roll
  • backward glance
  • backward steps
Synonyms
  • rearward

    is more formal and often appears in technical or official writing

  • back

    is shorter and common in compounds such as back door, but it does not fit all of these patterns

  • reverse

    often stresses opposite direction or order rather than simple physical position

Antonyms
  • forward

    means directed toward the front or ahead

  • front-facing

    is especially used for screens, seats, and cameras

Grammar Patterns

a backward glance

a backward roll

backward-facing seats

Usage Note

This sense is mainly used before a noun. When the word describes how someone moves after a verb, adverb/1 is usually the better choice.

Common Mistakes

The train moved backward-facing.
The train moved backward.' / 'The train has backward-facing seats.
use the adjective before a noun, but the adverb after a verb.

2. less developed or improved than others, or representing a move away from better

2.adjectiveC2
Definition

less developed or improved than others, or representing a move away from better methods

Example

Many families left the village because poor roads kept it backward.

Cutting library hours would be a backward step for the school.

collocation: backward step

Common collocations
  • backward area
  • backward economy
  • backward policy
  • backward step
Synonyms
  • underdeveloped

    is more formal and is especially used for economies or infrastructure

  • behind

    is broader and often compares progress with another person or group

  • undeveloped

    can focus on land or a sector that has not grown much yet

  • retrograde

    is formal and strongly stresses movement in the wrong direction

Antonyms
  • advanced

    means far developed or modern

  • modern

    stresses up-to-date methods or conditions

  • progressive

    suggests support for new and improving ideas

Grammar Patterns

a backward area

a backward step

seem backward

Usage Note

Often used for places, economies, systems, or decisions rather than for one shy person. Distinguish from adjective/4, which is an old-fashioned and often offensive label about a child's learning.

Common Mistakes

The country is backwarded.
The country is backward.
backward is an adjective here, not a past participle.

3. quiet and unwilling to act first because you feel shy or unsure

3.adjective
Definition

quiet and unwilling to act first because you feel shy or unsure

Example

At first, Lena was backward about asking the coach for help.

pattern: backward about + -ing

The new boy was backward about joining the others at lunch.

Common collocations
  • backward about asking
  • backward with strangers
  • seem backward
  • grow less backward
Synonyms
  • shy

    is the most everyday word and can describe a general personality

  • hesitant

    focuses more on uncertainty than on personality

  • diffident

    is more formal and stresses lack of confidence

Antonyms
  • confident

    means feeling sure enough to speak or act

  • outgoing

    describes someone who easily talks to others

  • forward

    in this older contrast can mean too bold rather than shy

Grammar Patterns

be backward about asking

seem backward with strangers

grow less backward

Usage Note

This sense describes hesitation in social situations. It is usually used after be, seem, stay, or grow, and often appears with about or with.

Common Mistakes

She is backward to ask questions.
She is backward about asking questions.' / 'She is shy about asking questions.
this sense often takes about + -ing, not to + infinitive.

4. used in older, offensive language for a child who learns more slowly than other

4.adjective
Definition

used in older, offensive language for a child who learns more slowly than other children

Example

Older school records called some pupils backward, which teachers reject now.

reported outdated label

The doctor said the child was not backward, just late in reading.

Common collocations
  • call a pupil backward
  • describe a child as backward
  • seem backward at school
Synonyms
  • slow-learning

    describes difficulty learning, but it can still sound negative

  • delayed

    is broader and can refer to development in general, not only school learning

Antonyms
  • quick-learning

    describes someone who learns easily and fast

  • able

    is broad and does not focus only on learning speed

Grammar Patterns

be called backward

be described as backward

seem backward at school

Usage Note

Old-fashioned and often offensive. Avoid using it for children today; describe the exact learning difficulty instead, or use respectful current terms chosen by the person, family, or school.

Common Mistakes

Teachers now describe pupils as backward.
Teachers describe the exact learning difficulty instead.
this word is old-fashioned and often offensive for children.

backward — adverb

backward — noun

Word family

  • backwards
    adverbB1
  • backward-looking
    adjectiveC2
  • backwardness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

For simple movement toward the rear, backward overlaps with back, backwards, and rearward. Back is the most everyday choice and is very flexible: people step back, pull back, or look back. Backward is also standard, especially in American English, and can sound slightly more descriptive in instructions or careful narration. Backwards is very common in British English for the same adverb use. Rearward is much more formal and usually appears in technical, military, or official contexts. So a teacher might say, 'Take one step backward from the line,' while a safety manual could say, 'Slide the seat rearward before lifting the lever.'

back ↗backwards ↗rearward

Common collocations

Phrases

  • move backward
  • step backward
  • look backward
  • count backward

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Backward comes from Middle English abackward, built from aback and an old directional ending meaning 'toward'. Its oldest parts go back to Old English forms related to back, so the word has long expressed the idea of facing, moving, or looking toward what is behind rather than ahead.