Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [bak-werd]
- /ˈbæk wərd/
- /ˈbækwəd/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [bak-werd]
- /ˈbæk wərd/
Definitions of backward word
- adjective backward A backward movement or look is in the direction that your back is facing. Some people use backwards for this meaning. 3
- adjective backward If someone takes a backward step, they do something that does not change or improve their situation, but causes them to go back a stage. 3
- adjective backward A backward country or society does not have modern industries and machines. 3
- adjective backward A backward child has difficulty in learning. 3
- adjective backward directed towards the rear 3
- adjective backward retarded in physical or material development 3
Information block about the term
Origin of backward
First appearance:
before 1250 One of the 11% oldest English words
First recorded in 1250-1300, backward is from the Middle English word bakwarde. See back1, -ward
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Backward
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
backward popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 93% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
backward usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for backward
adj backward
- rearward — Also, rearwards. toward or in the rear.
- back — If you move back, you move in the opposite direction to the one in which you are facing or in which you were moving before.
- aback — towards the back; backwards
- abaft — closer to the stern than to another place on a vessel
- about — You use about to introduce who or what something relates to or concerns.
adjective backward
- retrograde — moving backward; having a backward motion or direction; retiring or retreating.
- regressive — regressing or tending to regress; retrogressive.
- recessive — tending to go, move, or slant back; receding.
Antonyms for backward
adj backward
- precocious — unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development: a precocious child.
- intelligent — having good understanding or a high mental capacity; quick to comprehend, as persons or animals: an intelligent student.
- ahead — Something that is ahead is in front of you. If you look ahead, you look directly in front of you.
- forward — toward or at a place, point, or time in advance; onward; ahead: to move forward; from this day forward; to look forward.
- aggressive — An aggressive person or animal has a quality of anger and determination that makes them ready to attack other people.
adjective backward
- progressive — favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform, as opposed to wishing to maintain things as they are, especially in political matters: a progressive mayor.
- confident — If you are confident about something, you are certain that it will happen in the way you want it to.
Top questions with backward
- what is heavy forward but not backward?
- what does backward compatible mean?
- backward integration occurs when a company?
- what is backward compatibility?
- what is backward integration?
- what is backward design?
- when will xbox one be backward compatible?
- how to do backward crossovers?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with b
- Words starting with ba
- Words starting with bac
- Words starting with back
- Words starting with backw
- Words starting with backwa
- Words starting with backwar
- Words starting with backward