backward

back·ward

B0016800 (băk′wərd)adj.1. Directed or facing toward the back or rear.2. Done or arranged in a manner or order that is opposite to previous occurrence or normal use.3. Unwilling to act; reluctant; shy.4. Behind others in progress or development: The technology was backward, but the system worked.adv. or back·wards (-wərdz)1. To or toward the back or rear.2. With the back leading.3. In a reverse manner or order.4. To, toward, or into the past.5. Toward a worse or less advanced condition.

---

back′ward·ly adv.back′ward·ness n.Usage Note: Most American English dictionaries list -wards as a spelling variant of the directional suffix -ward. Accordingly, two variants are provided for most of the adverbs that end with this suffix: backward/backwards, toward/towards, upward/upwards, and so on. Although both variants are considered acceptable, the -ward suffix is more common in American English, whereas the -wards suffix is more common in British English. This distinction is more prominent in edited prose than in casual writing or speech, possibly because many American copyeditors follow style manuals that recommend or prescribe the -ward variant. Despite this dialectal differentiation, there remains significant variation in usage among individuals and even among the different -ward words themselves. This variation is evident in the results from our 2012 usage survey: backwards and towards were deemed acceptable by 72 percent and 69 percent of Panelists, respectively, but only 38 percent found forwards to be acceptable. Note that for those -ward words that also function as adjectives, the form without the s is standard: a backward look; a westward journey.

backward

(ˈbækwəd) adj1. (usually prenominal) directed towards the rear: a backward glance. 2. retarded in physical, material, or intellectual development: backward countries; a backward child. 3. a. of or relating to the past; conservative or reactionaryb. (in combination): backward-looking. 4. reluctant or bashful: a backward lover. 5. (Chess & Draughts) chess (of a pawn) behind neighbouring pawns and unable to be supported by themadv a variant of backwards ˈbackwardly adv ˈbackwardness n

back•ward

(ˈbæk wərd)

adv. Also, back′wards. 1. toward the back or rear. 2. with the back foremost. 3. in the reverse of the usual or right way: counting backward from 100. 4. toward the past. 5. toward a less advanced state; retrogressively. adj. 6. directed toward the back or past. 7. reversed; returning: a backward movement. 8. behind in time, progress, or development: a backward learner. 9. bashful or hesitant; shy: a backward suitor. Idioms: 1. backward(s) and forward(s), in every detail; thoroughly. 2. bend, lean, or fall over backward, to exert oneself to the utmost; make a serious effort. [1250–1300] back′ward•ly, adv. back′ward•ness, n.

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	backward - directed or facing toward the back or rear; "a backward view"regressive - opposing progress; returning to a former less advanced stateretrospective - concerned with or related to the past; "retrospective self-justification"forward - at or near or directed toward the front; "the forward section of the aircraft"; "a forward plunge down the stairs"; "forward motion"
	2.	backward - (used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature; "a backward lover"timid - showing fear and lack of confidenceforward - used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty; "a forward child badly in need of discipline"
	3.	backward - retarded in intellectual developmentfeebleminded, half-witted, slow-wittedarchaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expressionretarded - relatively slow in mental or emotional or physical development; "providing a secure and sometimes happy life for the retarded"
	4.	backward - having made less than normal progress; "an economically backward country"adynamic, undynamic - characterized by an absence of force or forcefulness
Adv.	1.	backward - at or to or toward the back or rear; "he moved back"; "tripped when he stepped backward"; "she looked rearward out the window of the car"backwards, rearward, rearwards, backforrad, forrard, forward, forwards, frontward, frontwards - at or to or toward the front; "he faced forward"; "step forward"; "she practiced sewing backward as well as frontward on her new sewing machine"; (`forrad' and `forrard' are dialectal variations)
	2.	backward - in a manner or order or direction the reverse of normal; "it's easy to get the `i' and the `e' backward in words like `seize' and `siege'"; "the child put her jersey on backward"backwards
	3.	backward - in or to or toward a past time; "set the clocks back an hour"; "never look back"; "lovers of the past looking fondly backward"backahead, forward - toward the future; forward in time; "I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring"; "I look forward to seeing you"

backward

adjective1. reverse, inverted, inverse, back to front, rearward, BWD (S.M.S.) He did a backward flip.
reverse forward, frontward2. regressive, negative, downward, for the worse, degenerative, retrograde, retrogressive a backward step into unskilled work3. underdeveloped, primitive, undeveloped, unsophisticated We need to accelerate the pace of change in our backward country.4. slow, behind, stupid, retarded, deficient, underdeveloped, subnormal, half-witted, behindhand, slow-witted I was slow to walk and my parents thought I was backward.

backward

adjective1. Directed or facing toward the back or rear:retrograde, retrogressive.2. Not forward but reticent or reserved in manner:bashful, coy, demure, diffident, modest, retiring, self-effacing, shy, timid.3. Exhibiting lack of education or knowledge:benighted, ignorant, primitive, unenlightened.4. Having only a limited ability to learn and understand:dull, simple, simple-minded, slow, slow-witted.Informal: soft.Offensive: feeble-minded, half-witted, retarded, weak-minded.5. Not progressing and developing as fast as others, as in economic and social aspects:lagging, underdeveloped, undeveloped.6. Economically and socially below standard:depressed, deprived, disadvantaged, impoverished, underprivileged.7. Clinging to obsolete ideas:conservative, reactionary, unprogressive.adverb1. Toward the back:about, around, back, backwards, rearward.2. In or toward a former location or condition:about, around, back, backwards, rearward, round.

Translations

向后的智力差的落后的进步缓慢的

backward

(ˈbӕkwəd) adjective1. aimed or directed backwards. He left without a backward glance. 向後的 向后的2. less advanced in mind or body than is normal for one's age. a backward child. 發展遲緩的 智力差的，进步缓慢的 3. late in developing a modern culture, mechanization etc. That part of Britain is still very backward; the backward peoples of the world. 落後的 落后的ˈbackwardness noun 落後 落后ˈbackwards adverb1. towards the back. He glanced backwards. 向後地 向后地2. with one's back facing the direction one is going in. The child walked backwards into a lamp-post. 倒退著 倒退着3. in the opposite way to that which is usual. Can you count from 1 to 10 backwards? (= starting at 10 and counting to 1). 往回 倒，逆 backwards and forwards in one direction and then in the opposite direction. The dog ran backwards and forwards across the grass. 來回地 来回地bend/fall over backwards to try very hard. He bent over backwards to get us tickets for the concert. (為了某事)竭盡所能 拼命（作某事）