In American English, backward is usually used as an adverb instead of backwards. Backward is also sometimes used in this way in formal British English.
1. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you move or look backwards, you move or look in the direction that your back is facing.
The diver flipped over backwards into the water.
He took two steps backward.
Bess glanced backwards.
Keeping your back straight, swing one leg backwards.
Synonyms: towards the rear, behind you, in reverse, rearwards More Synonyms of backwards
Backwards is also an adjective.
Without so much as a backwards glance, he steered her towards the car.
2. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you do something backwards, you do it in the opposite way to the usual way.
He works backwards, building a house from the top downwards.
Synonyms: in reverse order, back to front, in the opposite way from usual More Synonyms of backwards
3. adverb [ADVERB after verb, noun ADVERB]
You use backwards to indicate that something changes or develops in a way that is not an improvement, but is a return to old ideas or methods.
Greater government intervention in businesses would represent a step backwards.
...the blaming that keeps us looking backward.
4. See also backward
5.
See backwards and forwards
6.
See to know something backwards
7. to bend over backwards
More Synonyms of backwards
backwards in British English
(ˈbækwədz) or backward
adverb
1.
towards the rear
2.
with the back foremost
3.
in the reverse of usual order or direction
4.
to or towards the past
5.
into a worse state
the patient was slipping backwards
6.
towards the point of origin
7. bend over backwards
8. know backwards
backwards in American English
(ˈbækwərdz)
adverb
backward
More idioms containing
backwards
know something backwards
bend over backwards
Examples of 'backwards' in a sentence
backwards
Allowing thriving schools to be undermined by the loss of their brightest pupils would be a backwards step.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The mum was coming backwards and forwards, she was so distraught.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We can't keep taking steps backwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We've taken a step backwards today.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
On the 16th he pulled his second shot and had to play backwards on his way to a double bogey.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But if you look backwards in the world of higher education and learning in general, these disciplinary separations are relatively recent.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
Many in the country, affronted by the tawdry detail, will feel football has moved backwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Whether that's forwards or backwards, you decide.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He added:'But it is a step backwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He just looked backwards and barged in to the goalkeeper.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The idea is that you lean forwards to go forwards and backwards to stop.
The Sun (2010)
Both outer rear seats can be moved forwards or backwards.
The Sun (2014)
You should aim to be able to run backwards for one mile within a few months.
The Sun (2012)
The tabloids have to take a step backwards and think about what they have done.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They design their service backwards from the way most services are.
Christianity Today (2000)
He is not backwards about coming forwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Take a big step backwards with the back leg.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Decide what your end point will be and work your way backwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Avoid the tendency to throw the weights upward or lean forwards or backwards.
Lycholat, Tony Shape Your Body, Shape Your Life (1987)
And it involves a continual flow of relevant information backwards and forwards between agent and investor.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We have to move forward backwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Maggie and Jem stepped backwards towards the door.
Tracy Chevalier Burning Bright (2007)
It grew both ways, towards the toe and backwards towards the heel.
Marsden, Philip The Crossing-Place (1993)
The story unfolds in two parts, one which goes backwards and the other forwards.
The Sun (2010)
When we reached the crest and looked backwards, a glorious view was presented.
Eric Newby A BOOK OF LANDS AND PEOPLES (2003)
The driver's seat moves forwards and backwards but not up and down.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The kitchen maid began to move backwards, one cautious step at a time.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
Some weeks we moved a long way forward, some weeks we moved a long way backwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The Replacements were infused with great energy but also looked backwards to classic rock.
The Sun (2008)
It seems that if you don't move forward with technology you end up moving backwards.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
I gripped on as the rollercoaster lunged backwards towards its final destination.
The Sun (2015)
I clip in and edge gingerly backwards towards the drop-off.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
backwards
British English: backwards /ˈbækwədz/ ADVERB
in direction If you move backwards, you move in the direction behind you.
She walked backwards.
American English: backwards
Arabic: إِلى الوَرَاء
Brazilian Portuguese: para trás
Chinese: 向后
Croatian: unatraške
Czech: dozadu
Danish: baglæns
Dutch: achteruit
European Spanish: hacia atrás
Finnish: takaperin
French: en arrière
German: rückwärts
Greek: προς τα πίσω
Italian: all’indietro
Japanese: 後方に
Korean: 뒤쪽으로
Norwegian: baklengs
Polish: wstecz
European Portuguese: para trás
Romanian: înapoi
Russian: назад
Latin American Spanish: hacia atrás
Swedish: baklänges
Thai: ถอยหลัง
Turkish: geriye doğru
Ukrainian: назад
Vietnamese: về phía sau
British English: backwards /ˈbækwədz/ ADVERB
back to front If you do something backwards, you do it the opposite of the usual way.
He had his jumper on backwards.
American English: backwards
Arabic: إلى الوَرَاء
Brazilian Portuguese: ao contrário
Chinese: 相反地
Croatian: naopako
Czech: pozpátku
Danish: baglæns
Dutch: achterstevoren
European Spanish: al revés
Finnish: takaperin
French: en arrière
German: rücklings
Greek: ανάποδα
Italian: al contrario
Japanese: 反対に
Korean: 뒤로
Norwegian: baklengs
Polish: na odwrót
European Portuguese: ao contrário
Romanian: invers
Russian: наоборот
Latin American Spanish: revés
Swedish: baklänges
Thai: ไปข้างหลัง ย้อนหลัง
Turkish: ters
Ukrainian: навпаки
Vietnamese: ngược lại
All related terms of 'backwards'
ass-backwards
of or in a way that is particularly contrary to the usual way, confusing , etc.
know backwards
to understand completely
bend over backwards
to try very hard to do something and to help or please someone, even if it causes you trouble
lean over backwards
to make a special effort, esp in order to please
backwards and forwards
If someone or something moves backwards and forwards , they move repeatedly first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.
know something backwards
to know something very well
to bend over backwards
If you say that someone is bending over backwards to be helpful or kind, you are emphasizing that they are trying very hard to be helpful or kind.
to know something backwards
In British English, if you say that someone knows something backwards , you are emphasizing that they know it very well . In American English, you say that someone knows something backward and forward .
Chinese translation of 'backwards'
backwards
(ˈbækwədz)
adv
[move, look]向后(後)地 (xiàng hòu de)
(= in reverse)[count, work]倒着(著)地 (dàozhe de)
(fig) 倒退地 (dàotuì de)
⇒ Technologically, this is a step backwards.技术上这是个退步。 (Jìshù shang zhè shì gè tuìbù.)
(in time) 向后(後)地 (xiàng hòu de)
to move backwards and forwards来(來)回移动(動) (láihuí yídòng)
to know sth backwards or (US) backward and forward极(極)熟悉某事 (jí shúxī mǒushì)
1 (adverb)
Definition
with the back foremost
Bess glanced backwards.
Synonyms
towards the rear
behind you
in reverse
rearwards
2 (adverb)
Definition
in the reverse of the usual direction
He works backwards, building a house from the top downwards.
Synonyms
in reverse order
back to front
in the opposite way from usual
3 (adverb)
unshakable traditions that look backward rather than ahead