adj
Meaning 1
Synonym of backward; see usage notes there.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: backward
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
backwards
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbækwɜːdz/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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General-American: /ˈbækwɜɹdz/
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CMU ARPABET: B AE1 K W ER0 D Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
adv
Meaning 2
Synonym of backward; see usage notes there.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: backward
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
third-person singular simple present indicative of backward
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adverb
Meaning 4
at or to or toward the back or rear
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- he moved back
- tripped when he stepped backward
- she looked rearward out the window of the car
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: back, backward, rearward, rearwards
Antonyms: none provided
adverb
Meaning 5
in a manner or order or direction the reverse of normal
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- it's easy to get the `i' and the `e' backward in words like `seize' and `siege'
- the child put her jersey on backward
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: backward
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From backward + -s. See also -s (“used in the formation of certain adverbs: backwards, downwards, inwards, etc.”).
From Middle English bakwardis, bakwardis, a variant of Middle English bakwarde, bakward (“backward”). Equivalent to backward + -s. Compare Saterland Frisian bäkove (“backwards”).
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Real reading context