• (RP) IPA: /ˈbæk.wə(ɹ)d/
• (America) enPR: băk'wərd, IPA: /ˈbækwɚd/

backward

1. (of motion) In the direction towards the back.

   They left without a backward glance.

2. (of motion) In the direction reverse of normal.

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

   Synonyms: retrograde

3. Reluctant or unable to advance.
4. Of a culture: undeveloped or unsophisticated.

   Synonyms: developing, Third World

   Antonyms: developed, First World, forward

5. Outdated.

   Synonyms: antediluvian, antiquated, backwards, parachronistic, retrograde, Thesaurus:obsolete

   Antonyms: progressive

6. (cricket) On that part of the field behind the batsman's popping crease.
7. (cricket) Further behind the batsman's popping crease than something else.
8. (obsolete) Unwilling; averse; reluctant.
9. Slow to apprehend; having difficulties in learning.

   a backward child

10. Late or behindhand.

    a backward season

    Synonyms: overdue, tardy, Thesaurus:overdue

11. (obsolete) Already past or gone; bygone.

    Synonyms: forepast, historical, Thesaurus:past

• German: zurück, nach hinten, rückwärts
• Italian: indietro,
• Portuguese: traseiro, posterior
• Russian: за́дний

• German: rückwärts
• Italian: retromarcia
• Portuguese: retrógrado
• Russian: обра́тный

• French: arriéré
• German: zögerlich, gehemmt
• Italian: riluttante
• Portuguese: retrógrado

• French: sous-développé
• German: rückständig, unterentwickelt, zurückgeblieben, zurückgewandt
• Italian: indietro
• Portuguese: retrógrado, atrasado
• Russian: отста́лый
• Spanish: atrasado, rezagado

• German: altmodisch, rückwärtsgewandt, rückständig, überholt, antiquiert
• Italian: antiquato fuori moda
• Portuguese: antiquado
• Spanish: pasado de moda, retrógrado, anticuado

backward

1. (of motion) In the direction towards the back; backwards

   to walk or ride backward

   to throw the arms backward

2. Toward, or in, past time or events; ago.
3. By way of reflection; reflexively.
4. From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin.
   • 1700, John Dryden, Theodore and Honoria

     The work went backward.

• backwards

• forward, forwards

• French: en arrière
• German: rückwärts, zurück
• Portuguese: para trás
• Russian: наза́д

backward

1. The state behind or past.
   • 1610–1611, William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act I, scene ii]:

     In the dark backward and abysm of time.

• backwards