• (America) IPA: /ˈɹiɹ.wɝ d/

rearward (plural rearwards)

1. The part#Noun|part that come#Verb|comes last#Adjective|last or is situate#Verb|situated in the rear#Noun|rear; conclusion, wind-up.
   • 1598–1599 (first performance)​, William Shakespeare, Much Adoe about Nothing. […], quarto edition, London: Printed by V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, OCLC 932921146 ↗, [Act IV, scene i] ↗:

     Do not liue Hero, do not ope thine eies: / For did I thinke thou wouldſt not quickly die / Thought I thy ſpirites were ſtronger than thy ſhames / My ſelfe would on the rereward of reproches / Strike at thy life.

2. The last troop#Noun|troop; the rear of an army; a rear guard.

rearward

1. Toward the back or rear of something.

   The rearward seats of the bus were unpleasantly close to the toilet facilities.

rearward

1. Toward the back or rear of something.
   • 1991, Peter Cozzens, Better Place to Die: The Battle of Stones River (page 124)

     The ensuing struggle was bitter but brief, as for a third time the Alabamians stumbled rearward through the cedars. If Manigault were to take the guns, he would need help.