Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [bak-waw-ter, -wot-er]
- /ˈbækˌwɔ tər, -ˌwɒt ər/
- /ˈbæk.wɔː.tər/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [bak-waw-ter, -wot-er]
- /ˈbækˌwɔ tər, -ˌwɒt ər/
Definitions of backwater word
- countable noun backwater A backwater is a place that is isolated. 3
- countable noun backwater If you refer to a place or institution as a backwater, you think it is not developing properly because it is isolated from ideas and events in other places and institutions. 3
- noun backwater a body of stagnant water connected to a river 3
- noun backwater water held or driven back, as by a dam, flood, or tide 3
- noun backwater an isolated, backward, or intellectually stagnant place or condition 3
- verb backwater to reverse the direction of a boat, esp to push the oars of a rowing boat 3
Information block about the term
Origin of backwater
First appearance:
before 1350 One of the 20% oldest English words
1350-1400; Middle English bakwateres; see back2, water
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Backwater
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
backwater popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 83% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
backwater usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for backwater
noun backwater
- boondocks — If you say that someone lives in the boondocks, you mean that they live a long way from any large cities.
- outskirts — Often, outskirts. the outlying district or region, as of a city, metropolitan area, or the like: to live on the outskirts of town; a sparsely populated outskirt.
- unknown — not known; not within the range of one's knowledge, experience, or understanding; strange; unfamiliar.
- outback — (sometimes initial capital letter) the back country or remote settlements; the bush (usually preceded by the).
- backwoods — If you refer to an area as the backwoods, you mean that it is a long way from large towns and is isolated from modern life.
verb backwater
- quash — to put down or suppress completely; quell; subdue: to quash a rebellion.
- invalidate — to render invalid; discredit.
- annul — If an election or a contract is annulled, it is declared invalid, so that legally it is considered never to have existed.
- revoke — to take back or withdraw; annul, cancel, or reverse; rescind or repeal: to revoke a decree.
- reverse — opposite or contrary in position, direction, order, or character: an impression reverse to what was intended; in reverse sequence.
Antonyms for backwater
noun backwater
- metropolis — any large, busy city.
verb backwater
- permit — to allow to do something: Permit me to explain.
- sanction — authoritative permission or approval, as for an action.
- validate — to make valid; substantiate; confirm: Time validated our suspicions.
- institute — to set up; establish; organize: to institute a government.
- legalize — to make legal; authorize.
Top questions with backwater
- where is backwater reptiles located?
- what is a backwater valve?
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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 backwat
- Words starting with backwate
- Words starting with backwater